Presidential Inaugurations - Hardcover

Boller Jr., Paul F.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 015100546X ISBN 13: 9780151005468

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001

Synopsis

From Washington's election in 1789 to the 2001 gala, this entertaining anecdotal history looks at the celebrations, fashions, ceremonies, and events that marked each presidential inauguration, including Jacqueline Bouvier's 1953 report on Eisenhower's inaugural, Tallulah Bankhead's surprise appearance at Truman's inauguration, and more. 35,000 first printing.

About this title

About the Authors

Paul F. Boller, Jr., is Professor Emeritus at Texas Christian University. Among his fifteen published books are the bestselling Presidential Anecdotes, Presidential Campaigns, and Presidential Wives. All three books were selected by the Book-of-the-Month Club. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Paul F. Boller, Jr. is Professor Emeritus at Texas Christian University.

Reviews

Boller Jr. (Presidential Anecdotes, Presidential Campaigns) here examines the events and controversies surrounding Presidential inaugurations. While some critics see Boller's work in general as "Presidency-lite," he is to be applauded for bringing to a general audience an engaging and entertaining work that is accessible to the public at large. Written with elegance and wit, this is a wonderful addition to the very thin literature available on Presidential inaugurations and is thus a valuable contribution to the field. Examining many of the human-interest stories behind the inaugural ceremony, Boller looks at how the President-elect got to Washington, DC, the often inclement weather, the inaugural addresses (most of which are quite forgettable), the swearing-in ceremony, the evolution of the parade and balls, and a host of other interesting aspects of this oft-neglected national spectacle. This fine book will be of wide interest to the attentive public. Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Emeritus Texas Christian University professor Boller specializes in presidential trivia; his previous books include Presidential Anecdotes (1996), Presidential Campaigns (1996), and Presidential Wives (1989). In this volume, he departs from the chronological approach one might expect; after a discussion of the precedent-setting first inauguration in 1789, he offers topical chapters. His subjects include the selection of inauguration day, problems posed by weather over the years, and the elements of the inauguration process: the night before, the morning procession, the formal installation of vice president and president, inaugural addresses, and receptions, parades, and balls. Boller closes with sometimes telling vignettes, a list of inaugural "firsts," and a selection of inaugural wisdom. A number of Boller's previous volumes have been book-club selections, so libraries should anticipate interest in his latest effort. Mary Carroll
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 015100546X
• ISBN 13: 9780151005468
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320