The Essential Wisdom of the Presidents

By Fall River Press

From George Washington to Barack Obama, the presidents have  led and shaped America ever since the country’s inception. Reflecting their own distinct philosophies about the role of the president, the scope of his powers, and the priorities of his administration, the words of these extraordinary men collectively provide a sweeping view of United States history.

 

The Essential Wisdom of the Presidents gathers together hundreds of unforgettable quotations from the chief executives. Drawn largely from their speeches, letters, essays, diaries, and autobiographies, the thematically arranged selections cover the subjects of greatest importance to the presidents themselves and vividly illustrate their singular personalities.

In this book:

·         Thomas Jefferson expresses his fervent belief in religious tolerance;

·         Abraham Lincoln extols the value of education;

·         Theodore Roosevelt warns against the wasting of natural resources;

·         Lyndon B. Johnson speaks passionately about the action required to ensure equal rights;

·         John F. Kennedy offers insight into the realities of the peace process;

·         Barack Obama cites the need for international cooperation in fighting the war on terror

Still other selections reveal a more personal side of the presidents. Andrew Jackson lovingly remembers his mother; James A. Garfield laments the solitude of the office; Theodore Roosevelt describes the loneliness of the White House while his family is away; Jimmy Carter recalls his childhood impressions of segregation; and Bill Clinton recollects his joy at becoming a father.

Whatever your political affiliation, The Essential Wisdom of the Presidents is an inspiring collection that will help you rediscover what each of these men did to shape and guide our great nation.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fall River Press
• Release date: Mar 30, 2011
• ISBN: 9781435132849

Book preview

1

The

Essential Wisdom

of the Presidents

EDITED BY

Carol Kelly-Gangi

9781435132849_0002_002

Compilation © 2010 by Carol Kelly-Gangi

All rights reserved. No part of this publication

may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, or transmitted, in any form or by any

means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording, or otherwise, without prior written

permission from the publisher.

Cover design by Scott Russo

Book design by Judy Gilats

Fall River Press

122 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10011

Sterling ISBN 13: 978-1-4351-3284-9

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To Dad with love and gratitude.

Contents

Introduction

1. Knowledge, Learning, and Education

2. Government and Democracy

3. Freedom and Rights

4. Equality, Law, and Justice

5. Religion and Morality

6. America

7. Politics, Politicians, and Political Parties

8. The Presidency

9. Peace, War, and Foreign Relations

10. The Economy, Business, Labor, and Wealth

11. Family and Friendship

12. Presidential Quips and Gaffes

13. Wisdom of the Presidents

About the Presidents

Introduction

I pray Heaven bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof.

JOHN ADAMS, from a letter written to Abigail immediately

after moving into the White House in November

1800. In 1934, Franklin Delano Roosevelt had the

prayer carved above the fireplace in the State Room.

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IN THESE TUMULTUOUS TIMES, with the country deeply divided on the major issues facing our nation, the words of the presidents are imbued with an even greater meaning as Americans struggle, once again, to define the appropriate role of government and of the executive branch.

The Essential Wisdom of the Presidents gathers 370 quotations from this extraordinary group of men who have shaped and shepherded our nation from the beginning. From the Founding Fathers who laid the framework for the fledgling nation to the men who led America from times of war, depression, and crises into times of peace and prosperity, each chief executive is represented here. All of them, in their own way, risked— and in four tragic cases—gave their very lives for the principles they espoused.

Every president has, of course, placed his individual stamp on the presidency, and the excerpts in this book reflect the divergent views and philosophies that each man held about his role as president, the sphere of his executive power, and the priorities of his administration. In the selections that follow, Thomas Jefferson speaks passionately about the price of freedom and democracy; Abraham Lincoln offers insight into the legitimate role of government; Theodore Roosevelt extols the value of preserving our natural resources; Franklin D. Roosevelt warns against the perils of relinquishing liberty to purchase temporary safety; Lyndon B. Johnson describes the painstaking process of peace; and Bill Clinton encourages us to hold on to the American Dream. Some universal themes are reflected in the excerpts as well: undying passion for America, a fervent belief in the freedoms upon which the nation was founded, the wearying nature of politics, and the longing for the domestic pleasures of home and family.

In the largest grouping of quotations, the presidents reveal their thoughts on the presidency itself. Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower reflect on the necessity for a sense of humor. James K. Polk expresses his preference to attend to as much presidential business himself as possible, while Calvin Coolidge insists on delegating duties whenever practical. Benjamin Harrison and James A. Garfield comment on the isolation and loneliness of the office, and Millard Fillmore expresses his disdain for how ex-presidents are set adrift. Theodore Roosevelt and Bill Clinton agree that perhaps no president enjoyed the office more than they did.

Still other excerpts offer a more personal glimpse into the lives of the presidents. Jimmy Carter recalls the systematic racial inequality ingrained in the America of his boyhood; Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama each express the love and gratitude they feel for their wives; Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt reveal the drudgery of attending solely to work when their beloved families were away. In a dialogue that crosses time and political boundaries, the presidents also exchange views on such subjects as the value of education, the struggle for peace and the horrors of war, the relationship of business and labor, the role of religion, and the nature of American resolve.

The Essential Wisdom of the Presidents invites readers to view our nation through the eyes of the men who have each offered—in his own way—the leadership, guidance, and inspiration that have helped to shape this great nation.

Carol Kelly-Gangi

Rumson, New Jersey, 2010

Chapter 1

Knowledge, Learning,

and Education

Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among people.

JOHN ADAMS, Dissertation on the Canon and the Feudal Law, 1765

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It is universally admitted that a well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people.

JAMES MADISON, second annual message to Congress, December 5, 1810

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Knowledge is power . . . knowledge is safety . . . knowledge is happiness.

THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to George Ticknor, November 25, 1817

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The diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.

JAMES MADISON, letter to George Thompson, June 30, 1825

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The pursuit of knowledge itself implies a world where men are free to follow out the