Rating: 
Summary: Makes the Presidents Human
Review: A great politician has to be able to relate to people. Make them laugh, feel their pain, understand their wants and desires. For the most part, however, a history book or text will only discuss the dry political or military parts of our leaders. Here, at last, one can learn about the more "human" parts of our leaders, what makes them laugh. In particular, in his third book, Mr. Dole discusses how funny some of our leaders really were. I especially enjoyed Lincoln's wit. For example one general, apparently tired of Lincoln's interference and micro managing, sarcastically wired to Lincoln and informed him that he had captured six cows. "What should I do now? He asked. Lincoln wired back - "Milk them." Arranged by funniest too humorless, over and over this book can and probably will make you laugh and marvel at some of our prior leaders. However, I would like to see a little better organization. As it is, this book almost useless for a source book for speeches and the like as there is no indexing. In addition, what is here is good, but there isn't a lot. As such, if you don't have a lot of money to spend, you may want to think twice before you purchase this book. But, don't worry, Bob Dole doesn't need your money. He is doing all those Viagra commercials.
Rating:
Summary: Makes the Presidents Human
Review: A great politician has to be able to relate to people. Make them laugh, feel their pain, understand their wants and desires. For the most part, however, a history book or text will only discuss the dry political or military parts of our leaders. Here, at last, one can learn about the more "human" parts of our leaders, what makes them laugh. In particular, in his third book, Mr. Dole discusses how funny some of our leaders really were. I especially enjoyed Lincoln's wit. For example one general, apparently tired of Lincoln's interference and micro managing, sarcastically wired to Lincoln and informed him that he had captured six cows. "What should I do now? He asked. Lincoln wired back - "Milk them." Arranged by funniest too humorless, over and over this book can and probably will make you laugh and marvel at some of our prior leaders. However, I would like to see a little better organization. As it is, this book almost useless for a source book for speeches and the like as there is no indexing. In addition, what is here is good, but there isn't a lot. As such, if you don't have a lot of money to spend, you may want to think twice before you purchase this book. But, don't worry, Bob Dole doesn't need your money. He is doing all those Viagra commercials.
Rating: 
Summary: Anecdotes and witticisms that add a human touch
Review: After the success of "Great Political Wit", Senator Dole followed up with this book. It is a book full of witty sayings of and anecdotes about our Presidents. He has grouped the Presidents from the wittiest descending to the point of having good stories about those Presidents that weren't particularly funny. Mr. Dole even provides his own ranking of the Presidents as wits from #1 - Lincoln down to #41 - poor Millard Fillmore. These stories and witty sayings are generally quite good. Some you will want to remember. He even has a last section on George W. Bush and Al Gore. You will remember some of these from your own reading of the news and watching Letterman and Leno. What I like about these little stories is the human touch they add to the too often formal and impersonal view we have of our Presidents. We see their pictures, memorize a couple of dates and maybe some key legislation or war during their time in office and that will be it. We seldom get to know them as people. These stories, in just a few sentences, show their character and view of themselves, their time, and the world in which they lived. Sure, too much can be made of them. But they do add something useful and a chuckle or two never hurt anyone's day. This is a bit larger volume than the first book, but it doesn't read long. And, like the first one, it is fun to just dip into now and again.
Rating:
Summary: Anecdotes and witticisms that add a human touch
Review: After the success of "Great Political Wit", Senator Dole followed up with this book. It is a book full of witty sayings of and anecdotes about our Presidents. He has grouped the Presidents from the wittiest descending to the point of having good stories about those Presidents that weren't particularly funny. Mr. Dole even provides his own ranking of the Presidents as wits from #1 - Lincoln down to #41 - poor Millard Fillmore. These stories and witty sayings are generally quite good. Some you will want to remember. He even has a last section on George W. Bush and Al Gore. You will remember some of these from your own reading of the news and watching Letterman and Leno. What I like about these little stories is the human touch they add to the too often formal and impersonal view we have of our Presidents. We see their pictures, memorize a couple of dates and maybe some key legislation or war during their time in office and that will be it. We seldom get to know them as people. These stories, in just a few sentences, show their character and view of themselves, their time, and the world in which they lived. Sure, too much can be made of them. But they do add something useful and a chuckle or two never hurt anyone's day. This is a bit larger volume than the first book, but it doesn't read long. And, like the first one, it is fun to just dip into now and again.
Rating:
Summary: Anecdotes and witticisms that add a human touch
Review: After the success of "Great Political Wit", Senator Dole followed up with this book. It is a book full of witty sayings of and anecdotes about our Presidents. He has grouped the Presidents from the wittiest descending to the point of having good stories about those Presidents that weren't particularly funny. Mr. Dole even provides his own ranking of the Presidents as wits from #1 - Lincoln down to #41 - poor Millard Fillmore. These stories and witty sayings are generally quite good. Some you will want to remember. He even has a last section on George W. Bush and Al Gore. You will remember some of these from your own reading of the news and watching Letterman and Leno. What I like about these little stories is the human touch they add to the too often formal and impersonal view we have of our Presidents. We see their pictures, memorize a couple of dates and maybe some key legislation or war during their time in office and that will be it. We seldom get to know them as people. These stories, in just a few sentences, show their character and view of themselves, their time, and the world in which they lived. Sure, too much can be made of them. But they do add something useful and a chuckle or two never hurt anyone's day. This is a bit larger volume than the first book, but it doesn't read long. And, like the first one, it is fun to just dip into now and again.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Funny
Review: Apparently not every president is as humorous as the next, but there are some real gems in this book. Several are "laugh out loud" quotes. Nixon's quotes were surprisingly funny, he was a smart guy and it comes out in this book. I used one of the quotes (FDR) for a memorial service recently and it was well received. I would recommend this book to history buffs, and public speakers. There are some gems in here. The book was a gift, I would never have bought it myself,(you are on TV commercials too much Mr. Dole). I did, however, very much enjoy the book. Give it a read.
Rating:
Summary: It Takes One To Know One
Review: Bob Dole is really funny! A few weeks ago the Doles and Clintons gave speeches in Washington D.C. and I happened to hear them on C-span. Dole's dead pan humor and hilarious one liners actually made me laugh out loud! Later that day I purchased this book which is quite good. After researching all the American presidents, Dole rates them from the funniest to least funny. Some of the best lines are from prominent people other than the president. There is a saying (not in this book) "Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused"!Some of our presidents, fortunately, have been likeable, intelligent and quite witty. This fine collection of humorous quips and anecdotes makes an excellent gift for all ages. Bob Dole's remarks are right on! My reason for the 4 star rating is for one reason only: Since most of us remember the faces of only a few past presidents, a small picture of the president being quoted at the beginning of each chapter would have been a nice touch. Dates are included which is helpful as we relate to each presidential term while reading. The introduction to this book is entitled " Backbones and Funny Bones" In this intro, Bob Dole expresses his views on presidential humor with rare insight and he provides us with his "Dole poll of presidential wit and humor" in a non-partisan way. 41 presidents are rated as humorists along with a brief discription of why. This is a gem.
Rating:
Summary: It Takes One To Know One
Review: Bob Dole is really funny! A few weeks ago the Doles and Clintons gave speeches in Washington D.C. and I happened to hear them on C-span. Dole's dead pan humor and hilarious one liners actually made me laugh out loud! Later that day I purchased this book which is quite good. After researching all the American presidents, Dole rates them from the funniest to least funny. Some of the best lines are from prominent people other than the president. There is a saying (not in this book) "Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused"!Some of our presidents, fortunately, have been likeable, intelligent and quite witty. This fine collection of humorous quips and anecdotes makes an excellent gift for all ages. Bob Dole's remarks are right on! My reason for the 4 star rating is for one reason only: Since most of us remember the faces of only a few past presidents, a small picture of the president being quoted at the beginning of each chapter would have been a nice touch. Dates are included which is helpful as we relate to each presidential term while reading. The introduction to this book is entitled " Backbones and Funny Bones" In this intro, Bob Dole expresses his views on presidential humor with rare insight and he provides us with his "Dole poll of presidential wit and humor" in a non-partisan way. 41 presidents are rated as humorists along with a brief discription of why. This is a gem.
Rating:
Summary: Bob Dole may make it as a writer
Review: Bob Dole may not have had a successful run at the presidency of the United States, but he is enjoying a wonderful career as a writer. In "Great Presidential Wit ( . . . I Wish I was in the Book)," Dole gathers together a wonderful, ragtag bunch of presidential anecdotes. From the familiar (JFK saying that Washington, DC had "all the efficiency of the South and all the charm of the North") to the undiscovered gem (General William Tecumseh Sherman giving Ulysses S. Grant the uneasy compliment that, "Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk, and now we stand by each other"), Dole has done a masterful job of pulling together numerous items on every single president. My favorite story in the book refers to a man who was in the running for a cabinet position. The president's friend (I won't tell you which president or which friend) urges him not to hire this bozo, calling the man dishonest. "How bad is he?" inquires the president, to which the friend immediately replies, "Well, he wouldn't steal a red-hot stove . . . " The cabinet nominee finds out about the insult and demands a retraction, prompting the president's friend to say, "Fine, you WOULD steal a red-hot stove!" One of the most fun features of the book is Dole's categorization of each president into different roles. Under "And You Always Thought They were Dull," he lumps Ike, Jimmy Carter, and Rutherford B. Hayes. Under "Yankee Wits," just Calvin Coolidge and JFK share space. Dole generously includes Bill Clinton under the heading of "Funnier Than the Average President" (along with John Adams, George Bush, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson). This would make a terrific gift not only for your favorite politico, but for anyone who enjoys genuine good wit.
Rating:
Summary: Bob Dole may make it as a writer
Review: Bob Dole may not have had a successful run at the presidency of the United States, but he is enjoying a wonderful career as a writer. In "Great Presidential Wit ( . . . I Wish I was in the Book)," Dole gathers together a wonderful, ragtag bunch of presidential anecdotes. From the familiar (JFK saying that Washington, DC had "all the efficiency of the South and all the charm of the North") to the undiscovered gem (General William Tecumseh Sherman giving Ulysses S. Grant the uneasy compliment that, "Grant stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk, and now we stand by each other"), Dole has done a masterful job of pulling together numerous items on every single president. My favorite story in the book refers to a man who was in the running for a cabinet position. The president's friend (I won't tell you which president or which friend) urges him not to hire this bozo, calling the man dishonest. "How bad is he?" inquires the president, to which the friend immediately replies, "Well, he wouldn't steal a red-hot stove . . . " The cabinet nominee finds out about the insult and demands a retraction, prompting the president's friend to say, "Fine, you WOULD steal a red-hot stove!" One of the most fun features of the book is Dole's categorization of each president into different roles. Under "And You Always Thought They were Dull," he lumps Ike, Jimmy Carter, and Rutherford B. Hayes. Under "Yankee Wits," just Calvin Coolidge and JFK share space. Dole generously includes Bill Clinton under the heading of "Funnier Than the Average President" (along with John Adams, George Bush, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson). This would make a terrific gift not only for your favorite politico, but for anyone who enjoys genuine good wit.
| 
