The President's Club Analysis
As American citizens, it is significantly important to understand the modern democracy and the relations among its leaders. In 2012, writers Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, published The President’s Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity, which serves as an essential key to the extending of awareness of American citizens. The President’s Club sheds light on the presidential brotherhood, or fraternity that has climaxed over six decades beginning with Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman in 1953. The book uniquely grasps the the relationships among these men with its intertwining of background information, descriptions of personal characteristics, and the including of each president’s differing ideas and how they clashed. Primarily, the authors sought to express that although as citizens, viewing history from textbooks books and other outside sources, there is and was a much deeper bond beyond competition in politics and in the executive branch of government. Each president has had his own intentions, qualifications, stories and lives. Yet, beyond their differences, they all share one characteristic, a brotherhood that only they know from serving America as “Mr.President.”As the book has described through the
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various presidential relationships, throughout history American presidents have found a beneficial utilization in collaborating with their successors. It is easily argued that leading a country, as large and complex as America, cannot effectively be done by one individual. As former presidents have each sat in the position in which their decisions determines the future of the country, they have grown the attachment to the determination to not only preserve the democracy that many worked towards to implement but to the continuation of their legacies. Many presidents have realized the importance of these things and have considered the significance of providing their further service and support to their predecessors. Not only do these circumstances signal union of political parties but the humanity that stands beyond America’s leaders. As history is reviewed, the President’s Club was established many decades ago. The book argues that America's first president, George Washington, began this exclusive linkage. He ignited the first presidential traditions in 1789 when he term began. In defense, the book states, that “the president's club, like so much else, was founded by George Washington.. first was agreeing to take office…; but then he chose to leave, retiring in 1797 after two terms (pg.3).” Mr. Washington set the standards that all presidents after him would consider inevitably sacred such as the title of “Mr. President”, leading our country while earning a salary, and reigning as leader peacefully at all costs. In common terms, every club, organization, and fraternity must have one individual that takes the initiative to create and set standards for their later generations such as President Washington unintentionally did.
However, John Adams, America's second serving president, took the initiative to begin a new tradition that the book addresses throughout. According to the authors of the President's Club, President Adams chose to offer former President Washington a continuation of his service to the country. He made this offer by appointing Washington to the position as Army commander. Moreover, this situation illuminates an aspect of politics that many later discovered. Particularly, this historical situation signaled how former and future presidents may share their differences and opinions but each must realize that the other individual can surely serve a significant usefulness to the other. As the former president has dedicated his tem(s) to carrying the country on his back, he has gained experience. As the future president steps forward, he must learn from his predecessor and recognize that the bond they may form is exclusive to only them and their successors. President Clinton eloquently described the importance of the bonds that may be formed as he speaks in the introduction saying, “It makes little difference how much they may have fought on the way to the White House: once they've been in the job, they are bound together by experience, by duty, by ambition, and by scar tissue. (pg.2)” One of the most genuine relationships in the book that unarguably represents the underlying humanity and brotherhood among presidents is the Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover bond. Herbert Hoover served his presidency until 1945 when Harry Truman entered office. The book describes Truman's entrance on page 15 in which it says, “ There was Harry Truman...summoning to the White House Herbert Hoover, a failed Republican president who had left town thirteen years earlier as the most hated man in America.” Although Truman’s presidency was expected to overshadow the “failed” service of Hoover, he entered office with self doubt saying “I’m not big enough. I'm not big enough for this job. (pg.15)” For clarification, two months after Truman’s entrance into his term of presidency, a devastating food panic began to spread. Truman quickly realized that he was absolutely unable to find a remedy for this panic alone. Of course, this mindset highlights the idea that leading a country, especially one that so many other countries depend on for prosperity, is not an individual task.Truman knew that Hoover held the he imperative experience that could lead to finding a successful path of remedy. Here is where the modern President’s Club was established. Hoover and Truman’s newly grown business and later person relationship, foreshadowed a new bond between a former and present president that none before had. Although, so many of America’s citizens resented Hoover for his lack of success as president, Truman saw a door for opportunity for himself and his successor Hoover. Hoover wrote to Truman thankfully stating the following, “When you came to the White House within a month you opened the door to me to the only profession I knew, public service, and you undid some disgraceful action that had been taken in the prior years. For all this and your friendship I am deeply grateful. (pg.53)”
By highlighting their relationship, the authors define the humanity that lies beyond the business and political aspects of presidential interaction.
Truman and Hoover built a genuine friendship off of the foundation of a political devastation. Each had a particular goal in their interaction as former and present presidents. Yet, their experiences and doubts brought them together on a emotional level. As the introduction states there are three factors that determine the performance of the president’s club, “the needs and choices of the sitting president, the needs and talents of the former presidents, and a climate that welcomes and deplores their partnership. (pg.14)” The interaction between these two unlikely partners implemented each of these
factors.
The President’s Club in it's entirety brings forth the natural humanity of the leaders of America. Each individual President has their varying opinions and ideas whether those things are based off of their particular political parties or personal characteristics. The technology and media that has surfaced so greatly as decades and generations have come and gone has impacted the way citizens view their leaders. Very few have overcome the ignorance which supports the idea that as one President goes in, one comes out, and afterwards there is no further interaction, The realization that has ceased to become common is that as Presidents serve and resign, they grow an attachment to America that only they and their predecessors know. The unity that is formed between the unlikely brothers of America represents the model that the country’s modern democracy operates by and what it’s citizens should be determined to further implement. In addition, their individuals bonds have pushed America to overcome each issue and situation it has seen over many decades.
The another perfect relationship that signifies this statement would be the surprising Eisenhower and Kennedy relationship. Kennedy was the youngest president to be elected, meaning he had little experience. One of the biggest intention he had upon entering office was to impress and win over his predecessors, specifically President Eisenhower. Eisenhower, on the other hand, was initially sceptical of Kennedy presiding saying “he had no idea of the complexity of the job at that time.” Regardless of his doubt in Kennedy, he stood by when he was called. One of the significant pieces of advice that Eisenhower emphasized to Kennedy, was “No easy matter will ever come to you as President.. If they are easy they will be settled at a lower level.(pg.120)” After this, Kennedy offer Eisenhower the opportunity to stay involved, and Eisenhower accepted this offer openly. In their interaction, the book describes two Presidents that come from two very different ends of the spectrum with very different mindsets. Although one doubted the other, they both found a way to have their intention meet midway, not for their own personal benefit but for the benefit of the country as whole. Essentially, that is what the book is conveying about the President’s Club. The unity the President’s form with one another is crucial to the improvement of the democracy and country in it's entirety. As the President's unify, a great collaboration of experience and ideas create solutions that one President or another would not be able to find on his own. Without solutions, the country and it's leaders would ultimately fail. A democracy is defined as a “government by the people.” Regardless of whether an individual is or has been referred to as “Mr.President” or a simple homeowner, they are naturally a citizen of this country. Beyond the differences of all of the Presidents, it can be easily argued that they their brotherhood was less built on the political aspects of their parties but on the realization that each of them are naturally citizens, who all want to see the country prosper. As they all have this desire, they utilize the experience and knowledge of each other to turn this desire into a reality for themselves and their followers. Their ability to desire to turn a desire for prosperity into a reality of prosperity together, illuminates their inner humanity. Humans are made to have goals and to be apart of the a group that has similar goals as us. The President’s Club is the absolute quintessential example of this.
various presidential relationships, throughout history American presidents have found a beneficial utilization in collaborating with their successors. It is easily argued that leading a country, as large and complex as America, cannot effectively be done by one individual. As former presidents have each sat in the position in which their decisions determines the future of the country, they have grown the attachment to the determination to not only preserve the democracy that many worked towards to implement but to the continuation of their legacies. Many presidents have realized the importance of these things and have considered the significance of providing their further service and support to their predecessors. Not only do these circumstances signal union of political parties but the humanity that stands beyond America’s leaders. As history is reviewed, the President’s Club was established many decades ago. The book argues that America's first president, George Washington, began this exclusive linkage. He ignited the first presidential traditions in 1789 when he term began. In defense, the book states, that “the president's club, like so much else, was founded by George Washington.. first was agreeing to take office…; but then he chose to leave, retiring in 1797 after two terms (pg.3).” Mr. Washington set the standards that all presidents after him would consider inevitably sacred such as the title of “Mr. President”, leading our country while earning a salary, and reigning as leader peacefully at all costs. In common terms, every club, organization, and fraternity must have one individual that takes the initiative to create and set standards for their later generations such as President Washington unintentionally did.
However, John Adams, America's second serving president, took the initiative to begin a new tradition that the book addresses throughout. According to the authors of the President's Club, President Adams chose to offer former President Washington a continuation of his service to the country. He made this offer by appointing Washington to the position as Army commander. Moreover, this situation illuminates an aspect of politics that many later discovered. Particularly, this historical situation signaled how former and future presidents may share their differences and opinions but each must realize that the other individual can surely serve a significant usefulness to the other. As the former president has dedicated his tem(s) to carrying the country on his back, he has gained experience. As the future president steps forward, he must learn from his predecessor and recognize that the bond they may form is exclusive to only them and their successors. President Clinton eloquently described the importance of the bonds that may be formed as he speaks in the introduction saying, “It makes little difference how much they may have fought on the way to the White House: once they've been in the job, they are bound together by experience, by duty, by ambition, and by scar tissue. (pg.2)” One of the most genuine relationships in the book that unarguably represents the underlying humanity and brotherhood among presidents is the Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover bond. Herbert Hoover served his presidency until 1945 when Harry Truman entered office. The book describes Truman's entrance on page 15 in which it says, “ There was Harry Truman...summoning to the White House Herbert Hoover, a failed Republican president who had left town thirteen years earlier as the most hated man in America.” Although Truman’s presidency was expected to overshadow the “failed” service of Hoover, he entered office with self doubt saying “I’m not big enough. I'm not big enough for this job. (pg.15)” For clarification, two months after Truman’s entrance into his term of presidency, a devastating food panic began to spread. Truman quickly realized that he was absolutely unable to find a remedy for this panic alone. Of course, this mindset highlights the idea that leading a country, especially one that so many other countries depend on for prosperity, is not an individual task.Truman knew that Hoover held the he imperative experience that could lead to finding a successful path of remedy. Here is where the modern President’s Club was established. Hoover and Truman’s newly grown business and later person relationship, foreshadowed a new bond between a former and present president that none before had. Although, so many of America’s citizens resented Hoover for his lack of success as president, Truman saw a door for opportunity for himself and his successor Hoover. Hoover wrote to Truman thankfully stating the following, “When you came to the White House within a month you opened the door to me to the only profession I knew, public service, and you undid some disgraceful action that had been taken in the prior years. For all this and your friendship I am deeply grateful. (pg.53)”
By highlighting their relationship, the authors define the humanity that lies beyond the business and political aspects of presidential interaction.
Truman and Hoover built a genuine friendship off of the foundation of a political devastation. Each had a particular goal in their interaction as former and present presidents. Yet, their experiences and doubts brought them together on a emotional level. As the introduction states there are three factors that determine the performance of the president’s club, “the needs and choices of the sitting president, the needs and talents of the former presidents, and a climate that welcomes and deplores their partnership. (pg.14)” The interaction between these two unlikely partners implemented each of these
factors.
The President’s Club in it's entirety brings forth the natural humanity of the leaders of America. Each individual President has their varying opinions and ideas whether those things are based off of their particular political parties or personal characteristics. The technology and media that has surfaced so greatly as decades and generations have come and gone has impacted the way citizens view their leaders. Very few have overcome the ignorance which supports the idea that as one President goes in, one comes out, and afterwards there is no further interaction, The realization that has ceased to become common is that as Presidents serve and resign, they grow an attachment to America that only they and their predecessors know. The unity that is formed between the unlikely brothers of America represents the model that the country’s modern democracy operates by and what it’s citizens should be determined to further implement. In addition, their individuals bonds have pushed America to overcome each issue and situation it has seen over many decades.
The another perfect relationship that signifies this statement would be the surprising Eisenhower and Kennedy relationship. Kennedy was the youngest president to be elected, meaning he had little experience. One of the biggest intention he had upon entering office was to impress and win over his predecessors, specifically President Eisenhower. Eisenhower, on the other hand, was initially sceptical of Kennedy presiding saying “he had no idea of the complexity of the job at that time.” Regardless of his doubt in Kennedy, he stood by when he was called. One of the significant pieces of advice that Eisenhower emphasized to Kennedy, was “No easy matter will ever come to you as President.. If they are easy they will be settled at a lower level.(pg.120)” After this, Kennedy offer Eisenhower the opportunity to stay involved, and Eisenhower accepted this offer openly. In their interaction, the book describes two Presidents that come from two very different ends of the spectrum with very different mindsets. Although one doubted the other, they both found a way to have their intention meet midway, not for their own personal benefit but for the benefit of the country as whole. Essentially, that is what the book is conveying about the President’s Club. The unity the President’s form with one another is crucial to the improvement of the democracy and country in it's entirety. As the President's unify, a great collaboration of experience and ideas create solutions that one President or another would not be able to find on his own. Without solutions, the country and it's leaders would ultimately fail. A democracy is defined as a “government by the people.” Regardless of whether an individual is or has been referred to as “Mr.President” or a simple homeowner, they are naturally a citizen of this country. Beyond the differences of all of the Presidents, it can be easily argued that they their brotherhood was less built on the political aspects of their parties but on the realization that each of them are naturally citizens, who all want to see the country prosper. As they all have this desire, they utilize the experience and knowledge of each other to turn this desire into a reality for themselves and their followers. Their ability to desire to turn a desire for prosperity into a reality of prosperity together, illuminates their inner humanity. Humans are made to have goals and to be apart of the a group that has similar goals as us. The President’s Club is the absolute quintessential example of this.