A review by pamiverson
Accidental Presidents: Eight Men Who Changed America by Jared Cohen

4.0

Intriguing look at the eight men who became President following the death of the elected President (also looks in less detail at Gerald Ford's rise after Nixon resigned.) How they were chosen to be vice-president, how they prepared for possible succession (even though Truman knew FDR was dying, there was little transition effort, Kennedy and colleagues kept LBJ out of the loop), and what it meant that such a different person became President. Teddy Roosevelt and Truman rose to the occasion, Chester Arthur evolved, Andrew Johnson was horrible. I continue to be fascinated by the Presidents; this was an interesting take on our history. (Note: there are books about Tyler and Truman called "The Accidental President."