{"product_id":"book-coq8","title":"Accidental Presidents","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling “deep dive into the terms of eight former presidents is chock-full of political hijinks—and déjà vu” (\u003ci\u003eVanity Fair\u003c\/i\u003e) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eand provides a fascinating look at the \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"3144\" data-start=\"3059\"\u003eeight vice presidents who reached the White House through presidential succession\u003cb\u003e, showing how each affected the nation and world.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe strength and prestige of the American presidency has waxed and waned since George Washington. Eight men have succeeded to the presidency when the incumbent died in office. In one way or another they vastly changed our history. Only Theodore Roosevelt would have been elected in his own right. Only TR, Truman, Coolidge, and LBJ were re-elected.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn Tyler\u003c\/b\u003e succeeded William Henry Harrison who died 30 days into his term. He was kicked out of his party and became the first president threatened with impeachment. \u003cb\u003eMillard Fillmore \u003c\/b\u003esucceeded esteemed General Zachary Taylor. He immediately sacked the entire cabinet and delayed an inevitable Civil War by standing with Henry Clay’s compromise of 1850. \u003cb\u003eAndrew Johnson\u003c\/b\u003e, who succeeded our greatest president, sided with remnants of the Confederacy in Reconstruction. \u003cb\u003eChester Arthur\u003c\/b\u003e, the embodiment of the spoils system, was so reviled as James Garfield’s successor that he had to defend himself against plotting Garfield’s assassination; but he reformed the civil service. \u003cb\u003eTheodore Roosevelt\u003c\/b\u003e broke up the trusts. \u003cb\u003eCalvin Coolidge\u003c\/b\u003e silently cooled down the Harding scandals and preserved the White House for the Republican Herbert Hoover and the Great Depression. \u003cb\u003eHarry \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eTruman\u003c\/b\u003e surprised everybody when he succeeded the great FDR and proved an able and accomplished president. \u003cb\u003eLyndon B. Johnson\u003c\/b\u003e was named to deliver Texas electorally. He led the nation forward on Civil Rights but failed on Vietnam.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAccidental Presidents\u003c\/i\u003e shows that “history unfolds in death as well as in life” (\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e) and adds immeasurably to our understanding of the power and limits of the American presidency in critical times.\u003c\/strong\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster Audio","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49347140026672,"sku":"BDcoq8","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio CD","offer_id":49347140059440,"sku":"10coq8","price":55.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/coq8-Square-cover.jpg?v=1777026292","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-coq8","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}