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Imperfect Presidents: Tales of Presidential Misadventure and Triumph Paperback – June 24, 2008

by Jim Cullen (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
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In this clever portrait of the American presidency, Jim Cullen takes ten presidents down from their pedestals by examining key missteps in their careers--and how they transcended them. Examples include Abraham Lincoln smearing a preacher and rediscovering his religious vision in emancipating slaves; Lyndon Johnson's electoral fraud in his 1948 Senate race and his role in the signing of the Voting Rights Act; and Ronald Reagan's subversion of the Constitution in the Iran-Contra affair and affirmation of world peace in helping bring about the end of the Cold War. Targeting Republicans and Democrats alike, Cullen's insights are surprisingly timely and hugely entertaining.

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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 24, 2008
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.53 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0230605788
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0230605787
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Jim Cullen has dared to write an old-fashioned book about the virtues of American presidents. But instead of wooden tales about cherry trees and log cabins, he has given us complex portraits of flawed men who performed acts of moral courage at critical moments in the nation's history. Imperfect Presidents invites us to admire these leaders--and even to find lessons in their stories--without indulging in hero-worship.” ―Steven Biel, Executive Director, Humanities Center, Harvard University, and author of American Gothic: A Life of America's Most Famous Painting

“Cullen, one of America's most versatile historians, displays his usual acumen with a topic that will never go out of fashion. The ways that our presidents invariably disappoint us, and the more interesting ways that they occasionally rebound from that disappointment, combine to make this a deeply satisfying read about the world's most powerful office. Great history for specialists and non-specialists alike.” ―Ted Widmer, former Clinton speech writer and Director and Librarian, John Carter Brown Library, Brown University

“Wise and often moving.” ―Fredric Smoler, AmericanHeritage.com

“In Imperfect Presidents, Jim Cullen offers a highly readable look at 11 commanders-in-chief and how they overcame major mistakes... With keen analysis and telling anecdotes culled from presidential biographies, Cullen proves that even the most revered presidents weren't saints... Cullen doesn't shy away from balanced appraisals of recent leaders and actions still deemed controversial.” ―Gary Budzak, The Columbus Dispatch

About the Author

Jim Cullen is the author of "Born in the USA" (Literary Guild Alternate), "The American Dream," and other books. He has taught at Harvard, Brown, and Sarah Lawrence College, and currently teaches at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York, where he also serves on the Board of Trustees. He lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition (June 24, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0230605788
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0230605787
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.53 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

About the author

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Jim Cullen

Jim Cullen

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Jim Cullen was born in Queens, New York, and attended public schools on Long Island. He received his B.A. in English from Tufts University, and his A.M. and Ph.D. degrees in American Civilization from Brown University. He has taught at a number of colleges and universities, including Harvard, Brown and Sarah Lawrence College. He was a longtime faculty member and History Department chair at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York before moving to the recently founded Greenwich Country Day School in 2020. He is married to Lyde Cullen Sizer, Dean of the College at Sarah Lawrence, and has four children.

Jim is the author of twenty books, which include "Sensing the Past: Hollywood Stars and Historical Visions" (Oxford University Press, 2013), "The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation" (Oxford, 2003) and "Born in the USA: Bruce Springsteen and the American Tradition" (HarperCollins, 1997). His latest book is "1980: America's Pivotal Year" (Rutgers University Press). His current project compares the musical careers of Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen. It is slated for publication in late 2023.

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Top reviews from the United States

  • DLS
    5.0 out of 5 stars A excellent mix of history and humor
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Cullen does an excellent job of giving a historical account with a twist of humor as he presents a side note of events not easily found in mainstream history. He shines a light the lives of our past presidents in ways that may have been missed or glossed over in school books. In some ways, I walked away with a different view of how I looked at some of our more colorful leaders.
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  • ANNETTE LEWIS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This book was really entertaining !!
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  • RNS
    4.0 out of 5 stars An irreverent guide to the American Presidency -- a great offspring of a website called American History for Cynical Beginners
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2009
    While this fascinating book, is a bit all over the place -- jumping from one president and topic to the next -- it's still very much worth reading for the wonderful, juicy tidbits about some of our most esteemed (and some less respected) presidents. Focusing on how they got themselves in awkward, difficult situations, and the courage they often showed to extricate themselves, Jim Cullen offers a great source for history teachers looking for good content to spice-up their lectures.

    The chapter titles and subtitles tell it all:

    Prologue: "General Washington Coddles a Protege: In which we see a winter soldier demonstrate the limits of power, the power of limits, and a new kind of leadership for a new kind of nation"

    Ch 1 "Vice-President-Elect Jefferson Stabs a Friend in the Back: In which we see a hypocritical ideologue apprehend the value of pragmatism"

    Ch 2 "Former President Adams Can't Stop Gagging: In which we see that a privileged upbringing need not handicap a (very) senior citizen"

    Ch 3 "Representative [Abraham] Lincoln Smears a Preacher: In which we see an ambitious politico achieve the moral--and spiritual--clarity of a great emancipator"

    Ch 4 "'Gentleman Boss' [Chester A.] Arthur Bites the Hand that Feeds Him: In which we see a great political hack discover the virtues of good governance"

    Ch 5 "Dude T.R. Enters the Arena: In which we see an imperial democrat reveal the impatience can be a virtue"

    Ch 6 "FDR Courts Disaster: In which we see a handicapped man learn he must not be a bully if he wants to save the world from despotism"

    Ch 7 " "'Landslide Lyndon' Takes a Position: In which we see an amoral opportunist commit an act of courage"

    Ch 8 "Vice-President Ford Stumbles at the gate: In which we see a naive man pardon a crook--and heal a nation"

    Ch 9 "'The Gipper' Loses One: In which we see a saber-rattler break some rules, get caught, and go on to win an important contest--in good faith"

    Ch 10: "'Slick Willie' Slips and falls: In which we see an offensive player master a defensive strategy"

    Epilogue: President Bush Fumbles an Invasion: In which we see why this book was written"

    Cullen, author of the 1997 profile of Bruce Springsteen, BORN IN THE USA, received his BA in English from Tufts and a Master's and Ph.D. in American Civilization from Brown University. His many years of teaching experience includes stints at Harvard, Brown and -- more recently -- the Ethical Culture Fieldstone School in New York City.

    Recommended for high school, public library and college/university collections and individuals teaching American History.

    R. Neil Scott
    Middle Tennessee State University
    2 people found this helpful
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