The Mortal Presidency: Illness and Anguish in the White House

Rating:
Summary: Intresting for biographies of studied presidents
Review: This book argues that the modern presidency is so stressful that it is a threat to the health of its occupants. After a short chapter on the general mortality rates of presidents, the author gives five fascinating case studies (of Presidents Coolidge, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Reagan). I don't think the author really proves his main premise: in recent times Presidents Nixon, Ford and Reagan have comfortably exceeded their normal life expectancies, and, for that matter, it looks like Lyndon Johnson was actually kept alive by his presidency. (He looked after himself prudently while in office, but started chain-smoking again and gorged on fried foods after he left. He died four years later.)For all that, however, the case studies are quite fascinating and should be studied by anyone who wishes to know more about any of the men in the case studies. For example, Gilbert shows that, contrary to legend, neither Roosevelt nor Kennedy performed his duties less than well, however poor his health. In short, the book is well worth reading for its biographical detail, but it doesn't really add anything to the debate about reforming the American presidency