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The Forgotten Presidents: Their Untold Constitutional Legacy Reprint Edition

by Michael J. Gerhardt (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 61 ratings
Editors' pick Best History
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Their names linger in memory mainly as punch lines, synonyms for obscurity: Millard Fillmore, Chester Arthur, Calvin Coolidge. They conjure up not the White House so much as a decaying middle school somewhere in New Jersey. But many forgotten presidents, writes Michael J. Gerhardt, were not weak or ineffective. They boldly fought battles over constitutional principles that resonate today.

Gerhardt, one of our leading legal experts, tells the story of The Forgotten Presidents. He surveys thirteen administrations in chronological order, from Martin Van Buren to Franklin Pierce to Jimmy Carter, distinguishing political failures from their constitutional impact. Again and again, he writes, they defied popular opinion to take strong stands. Martin Van Buren reacted to an economic depression by withdrawing federal funds from state banks in an attempt to establish the controversial independent treasury system. His objective was to shrink the federal role in the economy, but also to consolidate his power to act independently as president. Prosperity did not return, and he left office under the shadow of failure. Grover Cleveland radically changed his approach in his second (non-consecutive) term. Previously he had held back from interference with lawmakers; on his return to office, he aggressively used presidential power to bend Congress to his will. Now seen as an asterisk, Cleveland consolidated presidential authority over appointments, removals, vetoes, foreign affairs, legislation, and more. Jimmy Carter, too, proves surprisingly significant. In two debt-ceiling crises and battles over the Panama Canal treaty, affirmative action, and the First Amendment, he demonstrated how the presidency's inherent capacity for efficiency and energy gives it an advantage in battles with Congress, regardless of popularity. Gerhardt explains the many things these and ten other presidents have in common that explain why, in spite of any of their excesses, they have become forgotten chief executives.

Incisive, myth-shattering, and compellingly written, this book shows how even obscure presidents championed the White House's prerogatives and altered the way we interpret the Constitution.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0199389985
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0199389988
  3. Edition
    Reprint
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    October 1, 2014
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    9.1 x 1.1 x 6.1 inches
  8. Print length
    352 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Forgotten Presidents run the gamut, from the truly important like Grover Cleveland to the truly forgettable like William Henry Harrison. But in recovering these stories, Michael Gerhardt reminds us that every president leaves a trace. The occupants of the highest office exercised power to reshape the nation they inherited, and in doing so they all sparked constitutional debates and transformed the constitutional landscape. Even our forgotten presidents helped shape the world we live in; a lesson worth remembering today." -Keith E. Whittington, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics, Princeton University

"Forgotten but not gone. In these captivating stories, Professor Gerhardt shows how even our lesser presidents shaped the constitutional order and the political world that 21st century Americans inhabit." --Michael C. Dorf, Robert S. Stevens Professor, Cornell University Law School

Book Description

Eminent constitutional scholar Michael Gerhardt tells the stories of thirteen presidents whom most Americans do not remember and scholars think had no constitutional impact, among them Chester Arthur, Martin Van Buren, and William Howard Taft.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; Reprint edition (October 1, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0199389985
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199389988
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.1 x 1.1 x 6.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 61 ratings

About the author

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Michael J. Gerhardt

Michael J. Gerhardt

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Michael J. Gerhardt is the Samuel Ashe Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law and the Director of the UNC Center on Law and Government at UNC-Chapel Hill. He has degrees from Yale University (BA), Londson School of Economics (M.Sc.) and the University of Chicago (JD). He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with his wife Deborah and their three sons Ben, Daniel, and Noah.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
61 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

George T. Anagnost
5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Timely and Impressive Read
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2013
Verified Purchase
Professor Gerhardt deserves his reputation as an most impressive constitutional scholar and skillful writer. Combining a fluid style and excellent command of American legal history, he has given us a fine contribution to the body of writing on the nature of the presidency, its evolution from both the constitutional and political sources, and the overlooked interplay of the executive branch with Congress and the Court. His ability to provide thematic assessments of the less well-known presidents in terms of presidential appointments, foreign policy, senatorial courtesy, and political patronage in well-structured chapters on each president makes for easy but informative reading. This book should appeal to a wide readership of students, teachers, historians, professionals, and anyone interested in why America's past is continues to channel current events. The professor's weaving in details and background stories adds to the enjoyment. (How many of us know why there is an odd naming to fifteen streets heading west from Topeka?) The books is as advertised. If you are interested in the American presidents, this is a must read.
2 people found this helpful
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Sings10R
4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Read about Contributions of Lesser Known Presidents
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2016
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An interesting book about presidents you don't really think about. The book is laid out in logical chronological order. For the first several, Gerhardt does a good job of highlighting things these presidents did or didn't do which help add to the US's current political culture and norms. However, by the end, Gerhardt seems to be trying a little to hard to show the precedents or contributions the later presidents made. The inclusion of Jimmy Carter especially seemed a little forced. It might have been better to give the presidents in the last 50 years a pass and claim that the jury is still out on their place in history. A good read overall, especially to complement the detailed biographies of more notable presidents.
4 people found this helpful
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Rick Mayo
5.0 out of 5 stars Forgotten Presidents
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2013
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The impact these "forgotten" presidents have had on the office are incredible. It presents a whole different perspective on the office and these men who held it, by acesencion or election. Be their contributions good or bad, each man has put an imprint on the office for its future holders that cannot be erased. The commitment each man had to their own interpretation of the Constitution, the duties they assumed were theirs to excercise and the conviction which each carried out that commitment is something sorely lacking in our elected leaders today.
Each man came into the office with certain ideas and as each faced conflict and opposition, you can see the clear path each determined they would take to protect and preserve the Union. Some motives were short-sighted or wrong in hindsight but that does not diminsh the conviction with which they carried out their directives.
3 people found this helpful
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William Siegel
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but much minutia
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2013
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Covers some interesting and to me unknown material but focuses mostly on events that effected constitutional law mainly. Well written and lucid. Would recommend only to those who are into presidential minutia.
5 people found this helpful
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Anne Mills
4.0 out of 5 stars Serious History with Side Benefits
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2013
Verified Purchase
Yes, this is a serious study of how each of these "forgotten" presidents affected the way the U.S. Constitution was interpreted and effected. Yes, it is well written and seems to me well researched, and if the constitutional analysis slows things down at times, there is enough anecdote and political history to keep things moving along. And yes, it is helpful reading for eny one who is making a (there's that word again) serious study of U.S. history. BUT it is also a lot of fun, for one key reason -- finally, I can remember the missing links in the list of Presidents. For years, I have fumbled over Fillmore, panicked over Pierce, tottered over Taft. Now I can identify each one of these sterling characters, and put him in his proper place.
One person found this helpful
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Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars Used book in very good/excellent condition.
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2021
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I purchased this book because of my interest in presidents, found it to be a great value, and the book was in very good to excellent condition.
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balopinto
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Subject; Dull Delivery
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2013
Verified Purchase
I found this history of some of our less popular presidents fascinating in that even the most ineffective ones still had a great impact on the history of America. They all left their mark. The problem I had with this book is that the author did not take the time to clarify complex ideas, and his style and interminably long paragraphs made the reading thicker than it had to be.
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E Schwartz
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must-read for anyone who is a student of American history and American Presidents.
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is a must-read for anyone who is a student of American history and American Presidents. Unlike many other historical authors, Gerhardt explains the importance of historical figures, party politics and events in the context of the entire arc of American history. These explanations gave me a sense of the enduring importance of these figures and parties (like the Whigs) in a way I had not appreciated before reading it.
14 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Rule 62 Ken
3.0 out of 5 stars Better Suited for Legal Scholars than Casual Readers
Reviewed in Canada on July 26, 2013
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Michael Gerhardt selects a most interesting subject for this book: "forgotten" presidents - twelve men who have occupied the oval office, but who have not left a significant historical legacy. Ever the academic, Gerhardt does not select his subjects haphazardly, but uses quite a comprehensive methodology, one to which he dedicates an entire chapter at the end of the book to explain the objectivity of his selection process. His final contestants are Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, Chester Alan Arthur, Grover Cleveland (in two non-consecutive chapters, like his presidency), Benjamin Harrison, William Howard Taft, Calvin Coolidge and Jimmy Carter.

Each of these presidents have interesting and forgotten stories to tell, but this is not a biographic anthology. It is an analytical, not an anecdotal, review of their presidencies from the standpoint of the constitutional scholar. Gerhardt undertakes an academic review of each presidency and the accomplishments and failures of each man on a number of subjects which define their constitutional legacies. These include how each saw the division of responsibilities between the executive and legislative branches, how they handled appointments to the federal courts, their use of the veto, exercise of presidential pardon power, federalism and states rights, performance on the international stage and a number of other similar criteria.

For the reader interested in the office of the presidency, the book is an interesting one with some surprising assessments. For example Gerhardt disagrees with the common historical conclusion that the 19th century era following Andrew Johnson (Abraham Lincoln excluded) produced a series of weak presidents. A number of virtually unknown presidents garner high marks from the author for fighting the good fight with congress in a number of important constitutional fields. These include Chester Alan Arthur, William Henry Harrison, Millard Fillmore, Benjamin Harrison and William Howard Taft. Gerhardt is more critical of Franklin Pierce and Jimmy Carter, especially in the latter's lack of vision in entering the office and in alienating congress while attempting to achieve great and noble goals.

The book is extremely well researched. Gerhardt has read extensively and, as every good author should, he has considered an amazing amount of source material, to the point where, when historians differ on a point, Gerhardt boldly states that he has "corrected" their "mistaken assertions." This book is very pedantic and academic in style, with little intimate information on each president other than general commonly known conclusions (e.g. Franklin Pierce entered the presidency very despondent after the recent tragic death of his young son Benny.) One's enjoyment of this book will depend on what aspect of the forgotten presidents most interests the reader. It is not a page turner or a conversation piece, but for the reader with a keen interest in constitutional history, it is an essential read.
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