The American presidents : heroic leadership from Kennedy to Clinton / Jon Roper.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Roper, Jon, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Presidents--United States--History--20th century.

Presidents.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vii, 246 pages)

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, [2000]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

How did democratic America respond to its cold war enemies led by dictators who promoted the myth of their heroic leadership?John F. Kennedy confronted the challenges posed by his cold-war enemies' 'heroic' leaders by moulding the narratives of 'consensus history' into the activist rhetoric of the New Frontier. Jon Roper examines how his image, heroic style of leadership, and legacy - America's war in Vietnam - impacted upon his successors. After Kennedy the hero, America saw Lyndon B. Johnson, the casualty of war; Richard Nixon, heroic failure; Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, faith-healers; Ronald Reagan, star; George Bush, deputy; and Bill Clinton, survivor.From Kennedy's inauguration to Clinton's impeachment hearings, the book examines the development of the character of the contemporary presidency during one of the most fascinating and turbulent periods in its history.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgements

1. ‘The Focus of the Anxious Crowd of the Age’

2. Circling the Wagons: The Frontier and American History

3. John F. Kennedy: Hero

4. Lyndon Johnson: Casualty of War

5. Richard Nixon: Heroic Failure

6. Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter: Faith Healers

7. Ronald Reagan: Star

8. George Bush: Deputy

9. Bill Clinton: Survivor

10. All-American Heroes?

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781474472173

1474472176

9780585443348

0585443343