The President's First Year

None Were Prepared, Some Never Learned—Why the Only School for Presidents Is the Presidency

by Douglas Alan Cohn

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Pub Date Jan 19 2016 | Archive Date Jan 29 2016

Rowman & Littlefield | Globe Pequot/Lyons Press

History | Nonfiction (Adult)

Description

A fascinating new angle on presidential history, assessing the performances of the presidents in their freshman year of the toughest job in the world. Grouped by the issues the new presidents confronted in their first years in office, the book takes readers into the history, thought processes, and results on a case-by-case basis, including how the presidents’ subsequent actions proved that they learned (or didn’t learn) from their mistakes. From George Washington to Barack Obama, The President’s First Year details the challenging first twelve months of all our presidents’ tenures.

Douglas Cohn is writer/owner of Washington Merry Go Round, America’s longest running syndicated column, founded by Drew Pearson 1932. He has been the primary speaker at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, National Press Club, West Point Founders Day, and the International Platform Association. His television work includes numerous appearances on A&E’s Biography Channel, the Military Channel, and CNBC. His program “West Point at the Opera” was featured in The New Yorker. He is a member of Critical Issues Roundtable, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank of retired generals.

A 1968 graduate of West Point, was a U.S. army airborne ranger who led a recon platoon in Vietnam. His medals include two Silver Stars and Purple Heart. He was retired as a captain after convalescing from gunshot wounds to the head, neck, chest, abdomen, leg, and hand. He and his wife of 41 years, Kathryn, have four children and six grandchildren. They reside in McLean, Virginia.

A fascinating new angle on presidential history, assessing the performances of the presidents in their freshman year of the toughest job in the world. Grouped by the issues the new presidents...

A Note From the Publisher

This is a set of uncorrected page proofs. It is not a finished book and is not expected to look like one. Errors in spelling, page length, format and so forth will all be corrected by the time the book is published several months from now. Photos and diagrams, which may be included in the finished book, may not be included in this format. Uncorrected proofs are primarily useful so that you, the reader, might know months before actual publication what the author and publisher are offering. If you plan to quote the text in your review, you must check it with the publicist or against the final version. Please contact publicity@rowman.com with any questions. Thank you!

This is a set of uncorrected page proofs. It is not a finished book and is not expected to look like one. Errors in spelling, page length, format and so forth will all be corrected by the time the...

Advance Praise

“Every contender says he or she is ready to be president on Day One, but history tells another story. As Americans select their next leader, how do we measure the capacity for future greatness? First year fumbles are part of the job. Some presidents are better for them (think JFK), while some never recover (think Hoover). The President’s First Year is an insightful primer on leadership. You may not agree with all of Douglas Cohn’s sharply drawn critiques of the men who have led us, but he will make you think as he views human flaws through the long lens of history.”
—Eleanor Clift, political correspondent for The Daily Beast and panelist on The McLaughlin Group

“This original and insightful historical analysis of each president’s first year brings a unique understanding of an inherent flaw in the system: none were prepared. I can attest to this, having had the honor of serving two presidents and observing them in the throes of that difficult freshman-year learning curve. This thoroughly researched and fully documented landmark book will alter the way we view the increasingly complex nature of our nation’s highest office and its unprepared aspirants.”
—James R. Locher III, Assistant Secretary of Defense under Presidents George H. W. Bush and William J. Clinton

“Harry Truman was at least honest about it: he was totally unprepared to be president. So have been all the others. With a sharp eye and a commanding grasp of presidential history, Douglas Cohn has given us reason to take a forgiving view of every president’s first year and of the fixable flaws in the system that elects them.”
—Evan Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Being Nixon: A Man Divided and Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Battle to Save the World

“Every contender says he or she is ready to be president on Day One, but history tells another story. As Americans select their next leader, how do we measure the capacity for future greatness?...

Available Editions

EDITION	Hardcover
ISBN	9781493011926
PRICE	$26.95 (USD)

Additional Information

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Featured Reviews

Peter S, Reviewer

I really enjoyed this book. A great summarization of a president's freshman experience. At times the author did point out the obvious failings but this did not detract from the overall reading experience. His interesting groupings elicited some thought provoking analysis. Overall it was an entertaining read.

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Kristi B, Librarian

I love books about presidents and their experiences. This was a great read with information not found in the history books.

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Andy L, Reviewer

Over the years, it has become apparent that there is no adequate training program for the Office of the President of the US. Indeed, it seems as if some of the most well prepared people to take the job were among the least ready, and vice versa. Douglas Alan Cohn takes a look at the first year of US Presidents and their successes and fails.

=== The Good Stuff ===

* Cohn has a nice mix of material, and is mostly an impartial observer of the Presidents. For the most part, he is non-judgemental and gives each President a fair shake.

* The writing style is pleasant to read, and the pages go by quickly. Each story is a few pages long, and there is enough detail to understand the story.

=== The Not-So-Good Stuff ===

* The details of many of the Presidents' first years are lost to history, and the stories get more detailed and complete as the history becomes more current.

=== Summary ===

I liked the book, although I might have liked to see more detail on some of the incidents related.