Biographical Directory of the United States Executive Branch, 1774-1989 - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313265933 ISBN 13: 9780313265938

Publisher: Greenwood Pub Group, 1990

Synopsis

Completely revised and updated, this Directory now includes biographies of members of the executive branch who have served since 1977. There are more than 20% more biographies in this work than in the last edition. Where appropriate, older entries have been updated. The Directory contains career biographies of all cabinet heads, as well as of presidents, vice-presidents, and presidents of the Continental Congress. All individuals confirmed in office by the Senate have been included. Each biography includes the most significant dates in the subject's life, family and other personal information, religious affiliation where available, service prior to and after cabinet duty, and place of death and interment. In addition, each biography contains a short bibliographic reference to important primary and secondary works to be consulted for additional information. Indexes, consisting of tables to enable the researcher to more easily relate the individual to his times and place and service, are included. More than 650 men and women have served in the cabinets of American presidents. Researchers in American political history who have adequate library facilities at their disposal may discover basic information about most of them without too much difficulty. For those who wish to make a study of a particular department or administration, the effort may be tedious and time-consuming. It is for individuals such as these, as well as for the general student of political history, that this volume has been compiled and written.

About this title

About the Author:

ROBERT SOBEL is Professor of History at Hofstra University.

Review:

“The third update of a work originally published in 1971 and enlarged in 1977. Each new edition has increased the number of entries by 10 percent. A one-page preface introduces the alphabetically arranged career biographies of all cabinet heads confirmed in office by the Senate-thus, acting cabinet officals are omitted. Also included are presidents, vice-presidents, and presidents of the Continental Congress. The biographies written by a team of 32 historical researchers give significant dates in the person's life, family and personal information, religion, career activities before and after cabinet service, and place of death and interment. The entries, which vary in length, close with short bibliographic references to primary and secondary resources for additional information. Eight appendixes (167 pages) tabulate such aspects as education, place of birth, and marital information. The volume is highly recommended for all types of libraries, particularly those lacking an earlier edition, as a very useful ready reference tool, for research, students, and political history enthusiasts.”–Choice

“. . . The biographical information and lists of offices and their holders should make this work a useful addition to many academic and public libraries. The more prominent persons are included in other biographical works, but many others are obscure and would be difficult to locate.”–Booklist

“First published in 1971 and covering 1774 through 1971, Sobel's Biographical Directory, a valuable counterpart to the government-sponsored Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-1989 (Washington: GPO, 1989), is now nearly as much of an institution as the presidency itself. As in the previous editions, this covers all men and women who have served in either of the executive branch's two elective offices or any of its cabinet-level positions. . . . Already a proven performer, this edition renews the directory's value as a source of unvarnished factual information about presidents and policymakers since the Continental Congress set the nation's course.”–Wilson Library Bulletin

“The overall content of this work is consistent and well organized. It goes a long way toward complementing the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-1789, and is recommended for all public and academic library collections.”–Preview

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwood Pub Group
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0313265933
• ISBN 13: 9780313265938
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 584
• Editor: Sobel Robert