What president (not recent) interests you?

Question

The 7th president's life, Andrew Jackson, interests me a lot. I read some books about him and discovered a lot of interesting things.
What non-recent president interests you the most?

Answer 1

I am intereeted in two men basically, because they had such interesting terms of leadership.

One is James Madison, the man who tried harder than anyone else to give the US a democratic government and republican free marketplaces; but his war hawk Congress got us involved in the War of 1812 with Britain during his term so there was little he could do; they ever burned Washington DC. and cost him a second term.
The second was a terrible president, micro-controller James K. Polk who got us into the Mexican War and tried to run the whole show; he even appointed postmasters personally, probably on some Bushite loyalty basis.
The two along with Jackson need to be studied if one is to understand how the United States turned from its founders' intentions so early to being a racist, imperialist and pseudo-theocratic mess even while its leaders were still professing to love liberty and individual rights--and denying them to other races, American Indians, females etc.

Answer 2

Read the Lyndon Johnson series by Robert Caro. 1.Path to Power
2. Means of ascent 3.Master of the Senate

I've read biographies of Adams, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Truman. Lyndon Johnson is by far the most fascinating president that ever lived. You wouldn't think that, but it's amazing what he did while he was a congressman.

There's a quote that he gave once that totally sums up his character. He said:
"I will say this about myself: I do know about power. I know where to find it, and how to use it."

here's some things that he did:

In his very first term as a congressman, he totally changed the elections of 1940. He saved both the house and senate as well as Roosevelt's campaign, all by himself. Before that, there was no real thing as the democratic congressional campaign committee. But after his first term, every congressman knew who he was, and knew that if they wanted money for their campaigns, he controlled it, so they better be nice.
They way he stole the election when he ran for the senate is a classic story, but the way he was able to beat one of Texas's most famous heroes, and how his lawyers figured out how to keep the public from viewing the facts is amazing.
When he became a senator, the role of the senate majority leader was nothing more than a ceremonial role, it had no power. He was able, in his first term to figure out how to get his fellow senators to give him the role, and then turned it into the most powerful position in congress. He had absolute total control over all legislation, he decided what laws got passed, and how everybody would vote. After only 4 years in the senate, he was literally more powerful than the president.

It's a long 3 books, and Lyndon was a total @#$%, but It's amazing how he was able to create and use power!

Answer 3

Jefferson is the one I'd most like to sit down and have a drink with. Highly intelligent, broadminded and well-educated, he had to be one of our wisest presidents.

FDR is very interesting too. For better or worse, his actions and unprecedented programs in the 1930s made this country and indeed the whole world very different from what they otherwise would have been.

Answer 4

I'm really interested by Calvin Coolidge. I just love that man, with all his idiosyncrasies, anecdotes, and insights into the way of life for America, especially in the Roaring Twenties.

McKinley's also an interesting character to look at. Reluctantly went into a quick and painless war, shot at his peak by a man who hated America's power.

Answer 5

Teddy Roosevelt

Answer 6

I really like Truman, because he entered into the presidency after one of the most loved presidents had died and had to deal with WW2. It was his decision to drop the atomic bomb, and it kind of makes you wonder how he felt about the whole thing.
Also, he played piano.

Answer 7

James K. Polk...and Grant's life prior to becoming president.

Answer 8

Washington and Teddy Roosevelt interest me the most.

Answer 9

Franklin Delano Roosevelt always interested me.I always wanted to know about his work in office, and his personal life.I've made a lot of research on him.

Answer 10

James K. Polk, the champion of manifest destiny. He's the one who expanded the country out to the California shoreline and the one who negotiated with the British to get Oregon. Thanks to him he made the USA, a country that extends coast to coast.