What You Should Know About the 47 U.S. Presidents takes you behind the scenes of every American presidency—from the first president, George Washington, to the current president, Donald Trump—with engaging stories, key decisions, and defining moments that shaped the nation.
This book brings each leader to life, covering their policies, leadership qualities, and even their quirks. You will find fascinating insights on the pay of presidents, cabinet secretaries, Congress, and the U.S. Supreme Court. You will learn of the close to 400 federal laws and over 200 U.S. Supreme Court decisions that impacted each president’s responsibilities. The book also includes the complete text of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and its amendments. The book is a complete and detailed reference guide to the U.S. presidents and the issues that affect them. It is perfect for students, history buffs, and anyone interested in American politics. It is a comprehensive look at the American presidency.
Whether you’re a casual reader or a scholar, this is your go-to guide for understanding the people who’ve led America and the impact they’ve left behind. It is an important resource for voters so that they can look back through history and understand the evolution of their political party, learn more about the political landscape in which each president led, and compare presidents’ campaign promises with their actual performance. Ultimately, this is the type of analysis voters must make on election day to determine who is the most qualified person for the job.
As early as 1775 and well into his presidency in 1804, Thomas Jefferson was an accomplished inventor, designer, and early adopter of such things as a dumbwaiter, a duplicating machine, a folding ladder, a big clock, an improved plow, and a swivel chair.
At the time of his election, in 1809, at 5’4”, James Madison was the shortest president, and he was the first president to wear full-length pants rather than knee breeches. The tallest presidents, both 6’4” – a full foot taller than Madison – were George Washington (1789-1797) and Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865).
In 1909, in addition to being the first president to throw out the pitch to begin the baseball season, William Howard Taft is credited with initiating the seventh inning stretch. Uncomfortable at the game, he got up to stretch. Seeing the president rise, everyone else did so as well out of respect for his office.
Woodrow Wilson was the last president to take a horse and carriage ride to his inauguration in 1913.
Gerald Ford was offered tryouts with the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1935, but he chose male modeling, from 1938 through 1941, and was on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine in 1942. He was also the first president to graduate from Yale Law School in 1941.
Bruce R. Ellig is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Wisconsin with a BBA and MBA. He worked for the pharmaceutical company Pfizer for over 35 years in the human resources division.
For the last third of his career with Pfizer, Mr. Ellig was the worldwide head of human resources, reporting to Pfizer’s chief executive officer. Mr. Ellig was also responsible for the company’s executive compensation programs and was secretary to the board’s committee on executive compensation.
Bruce Ellig has written and published twelve books (including this one) and over 150 articles. His most notable works include four editions of The Complete Guide to Executive Compensation and two books on the influence of the U.S. Presidents on the evolution of employee pay. He has spoken before audiences of over 5,000 attendees. Ellig has also appeared on national television a number of times.
Mr. Ellig was Chairman of the National Board of Directors for the Society for Human Resources and is the recipient of many awards and honors including a lifetime membership to the National Academy of Human Resources and inclusion in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World. In 2024, Who’s Who identified Mr. Ellig as the most distinguished professional among the over 300 named.
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Bruce Ellig is an acclaimed author who is passionate about U.S. presidential history. His latest book, What You Should Know About the 47 U.S. Presidents, offers an engaging look at the leadership, policies, and defining moments of every American president.