Leadership & Statesmanship, Presidents of the United States - General & Miscellaneous
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Overview
Ever since a young George Washington admitted to chopping down the infamous cherry tree, the issue of character has been inextricably linked to the Oval Office. The American people have always expected their Presidents to serve not only as political leaders but also as role models of personal behavior. But as the millennium nears, character and values have taken on a significance never contemplated by Washington and the Founding Fathers. The Double-Edged Sword rebuts the claim put forward by Clinton and his supporters that a President's private life can be separated from his performance in office. By examining the morality of some of our most prominent and influential Chief Executives, Robert Shogan illustrates how Presidential character is a double-edged sword -- a weapon that can destroy a President's credibility, but also one that he can use to define himself and mobilize support.Editorials
David S. Broder
A timely, terrific book that reminds us the issue of President character has run through American history, as a blessing or a curse.— The Washington Post
New York Post
Shogan reminds us that the idea of character was inherent in the Founders' concept of the presidency itself.New York Times Book Review
[Shogan] offers the kind of anecdote and color that have distinguished his long reportorial career.USA Today
President Clinton's renowned indiscretions with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky have prompted teeth-gnashing and hand-wringing about what, precisely, Americans expect from a President. Robert Shogan's The Double-Edged Sword shows us that this debate isn't new.Booknews
A political correspondent in Washington for three decades and seven presidencies, Shogan examines the morality of some of the most prominent and influential US presidents from throughout the country's history. He shows how personal character and values are linked to the political process and governance, and how the public perception of them are used to manipulate the press and the electorate. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)David S. Broder
A timely, terrific book that reminds us the issue of President character has run through American history, as a blessing or a curse. -- The Washington PostBook Details
Published
March 26, 1999
Publisher
Boulder, Colo. : Westview Press, 1999.
Pages
304
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780813368726