Destiny's consul : America's ten greatest presidents / Michael P. Riccards.

Includes bibliographical references.

Preface: how presidents become great -- George Washington: creating a nation in war and then in peace -- Thomas Jefferson: establishing popular rule -- Andrew Jackson: the president as a tribune of the people -- James K. Polk: the arts of waging conflict -- Abraham Lincoln: the commander in chief goes to war -- Theodore Roosevelt: the dynamics of domestic reform -- Woodrow Wilson: the progressive agenda at home and across the world -- Franklin D. Roosevelt: the establishment of the modern presidency -- Harry S. Truman: the first imperial president -- Ronald Reagan: unleashing right wing America -- Conclusion.

What makes a great president? Certainly leadership, accomplishments, crisis management, political skill, character, and integrity are part of the equation, but the great presidents have something more. They not only govern well, but are part of something lasting; their presidencies influence the thoughts and beliefs of generations. These powerful men are not flawless leaders, they have made mistakes and miscalculations, but in the end their decisions have changed the nation and often the world. In Destiny's Consul: America's Greatest Presidents, presidential scholar Michael P. Riccards provides a concise introduction to the lives, presidencies, and personal qualities of ten great individuals whom Riccards argues are our greatest presidents. Organized chronologically, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Ronald Reagan are shown to truly be great.