The American Presidents: Heroic Leadership from Kennedy to Clinton

Jon Roper

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2000

The American Presidents

Heroic Leadership from Kennedy to Clinton

Jon Roper

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474472173

Overview
Contents

About this book

How did democratic America respond to its cold war enemies led by dictators who promoted the myth of their heroic leadership?

John F. Kennedy confronted the challenges posed by his cold-war enemies' 'heroic' leaders by moulding the narratives of 'consensus history' into the activist rhetoric of the New Frontier. Jon Roper examines how his image, heroic style of leadership, and legacy - America's war in Vietnam - impacted upon his successors. After Kennedy the hero, America saw Lyndon B. Johnson, the casualty of war; Richard Nixon, heroic failure; Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, faith-healers; Ronald Reagan, star; George Bush, deputy; and Bill Clinton, survivor.

From Kennedy's inauguration to Clinton's impeachment hearings, the book examines the development of the character of the contemporary presidency during one of the most fascinating and turbulent periods in its history.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
1. ‘The Focus of the Anxious Crowd of the Age’ Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. Circling the Wagons: The Frontier and American History Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	16
3. John F. Kennedy: Hero Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	41
4. Lyndon Johnson: Casualty of War Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	67
5. Richard Nixon: Heroic Failure Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	91
6. Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter: Faith Healers Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	115
7. Ronald Reagan: Star Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	136
8. George Bush: Deputy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	159
9. Bill Clinton: Survivor Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	182
10. All-American Heroes? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	207
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	225
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	237

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 248
Keywords: American Studies

eBook

Published: June 7, 2022
ISBN: 9781474472173