Mike Purdy's Presidential History Blog
Presidential History Roundup #1
Presidential History Roundup #1: Interesting news about Presidential history: Eisenhower: So you think you know Ike? What did former speechwriter William Ewald know about Eisenhower? Ewald passed away on March 16, 2015 at age 89. Nixon: Nixon's secret and...
Publishing Schedule for Upcoming Presidential Biographies
As a testament to the enduring interest of Americans with the lives of our Presidents, biographies of our chief executives continue to be published. For example, a few of the upcoming presidential biographies scheduled to come out in 2015 include the following:...
Which Untimely Presidential Transition Affected the County the Most?
Lincoln by a landslide: The weary nation breathed a sigh of relief as the hostilities of the long and wrenching War Between the States closed that frightful chapter of history. But before the wounds began to heal, the bloodshed that had taken a generation of young...
Lyndon Johnson’s Favorite Cinnamon Roll
Lyndon Johnson was always larger than life...and always very opinionated. So it's really no surprise that he felt passionately about cinnamon rolls - but not just any cinnamon rolls. LBJ loved the cinnamon rolls baked in a small restaurant in San Marcos, Texas....
What Was Jimmy Carter’s Response to Kennedy’s Assassination?
In a November 20, 2014 interview at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, former President Jimmy Carter was asked by Ronan Farrow the following question: "How does President Kennedy’s legacy echo in your mind today?" Carter gave a very moving response...
The Only Document Signed by the First Four Presidents
In 1793, in a precursor to today's concept of "crowdfunding" (the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, usually online), the men who would be the nation's first four Presidents all signed one document...
The Remarkable Education of John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams, our nation's 6th President, was the son of John Adams, the 2nd President. From his birth John Quincy Adams was destined for a political life. In this new book (published January 6, 2015), author Phyllis Lee Levin explores the life of this gifted...
New George Washington Biography Out in February
Robert Middlekauff has a new book coming out on February 3, 2015 entitled "Washington's Revolution: The Making of America's First Leader." Middlekauff is Professor Emeritus at the University of California Berkeley. Why another book about Washington? Here's what the...
Presidential Books I Read in 2014
The following is the list of nine books about the Presidents that I read in 2014: Thomas Jefferson - From Boy to Man, by Jayne D'Alessandro-Cox, 342 pages. This book is more a personal account of Jefferson's early years than it is a description of political issues of...
Introducing…Presidential History News
I am thrilled to announce the debut of a new project of mine: Presidential History News. It is premiering on my recently launched resource website PresidentialHistory.com, where I am also now publishing this blog. Reporting Live From History: Presidential History News...
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About Mike
Mike Purdy is a presidential historian and author living in Seattle, Washington. As an expert in presidential history, Mike runs PresidentialHistory.com as a public resource.