Hatred of America's Presidents: Personal Attacks on the White House from Washington to Trump

(Hardback)

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Description

This work examines expressions of personal hostility and animosity toward presidentseven beloved onesthroughout American history and their impact on policymaking, politics, and culture. People involved or simply interested in politics often ask whether today's political environment is more toxic than ever before. Hatred of America's Presidents: Personal Attacks on the White House from Washington to Trump presents an impartial and authoritative history of invective toward the White House so readers can determine the answer for themselves. The book focuses on the most representative and commonplace attacks of a vitriolic and personal nature, detailing who instigated and trafficked in the attacks and how presidents, administrations, and political parties defended themselves. It also illustrates how honest disagreements about policysuch as FDR's New Deal, Ronald Reagan's Central America policies, George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq, and Barack Obama's Affordable Care Actfueled expressions of hatred and condemnation. Finally, the book includes perspectives from both the right and the left on the legitimacy of these attacks and the victims' defenses as well as their impact on American politics and policy.

Reviews

Presidential political science and history buffs will pore over this captivating study; researchers will find the further reading suggestions particularly helpful. * Library Journal, Starred Review *
The literature on the American presidency is enormous so a volume solely devoted to this narrow historical aspect should benefit students, researchers, and general readers. * ARBA *
All the chapters are concise and well written. . . . Recommended. * Choice *
2018 Top Community College Resource * Choice *

Author Bio

Lori Cox Han is Professor of Political Science at Chapman University in Orange, California. She is the author of several books on the presidency, news media, and women in politics.