The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Presidents

From Wilson to Obama

By: Steven F. Hayward

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

What makes a president great?

Academics, journalists, and popular historians agree: our greatest presidents are the ones who confronted a national crisis and mobilized the entire nation to face it. That’s the conventional wisdom. The chief executives who are celebrated in textbooks and placed in the top echelon of presidents in surveys of experts are the bold leaders - the Woodrow Wilsons and Franklin Roosevelts - who reshaped the United States in line with their grand “vision” for America. Unfortunately, along the way, these “great” presidents inevitably expanded government - and shrank our liberties.

As the twentieth-century presidency has grown far beyond the bounds the Founders established for the office, the idea that our chief executive is obliged to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States” has become a distant memory.

Historian and celebrated Reagan biographer Steven F. Hayward reminds us that the Founders had an entirely different idea of greatness in the presidential office. The personal ambitions, populist appeals, and bribes paid to the voters with their own money that most modern presidents engage in would strike them as instances of the demagoguery they most feared - one of the great dangers to the people’s liberty that they wrote the Constitution explicitly to guard against. The Founders, in contrast to today’s historians, expected great presidents to be champions of the limited government established by the Constitution.

Working from that almost forgotten standard of presidential greatness, Steven Hayward offers a fascinating off-the-beaten-track tour through the modern presidency, from the Progressive Era’s Woodrow Wilson to Barack Obama. Along the way he serves up fresh historical insights, recalls forgotten anecdotes, celebrates undervalued presidents who took important stands in defense of the Constitution, and points the way to a revival of truly constitutional government in America.

©2012 Steven F. Hayward (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Steven Hayward, one of my favorite historians and writers, has some pretty whacky ideas. For example, he thinks presidents should be graded on their loyalty to their oath of office. Why, it’s just crazy enough to work! Read this book not only because it is entertaining, insightful, and informative but also because it’s the perfect antidote to presidential grade inflation.” (Jonah Goldberg, editor-at-large of National Review Online and author of Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left from Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning)

“One of the keys to restoring the government to its proper limits will be to have our presidents serve in their originally intended role as defenders of the Constitution rather than undermining it through endless expansions of the administrative state. It is surprising how seldom we evaluate presidents according to whether they live up to their oath of office, and we have Steven Hayward to thank for reminding us of the presidents who understood this and those who didn’t.” (Edwin Meese III, attorney general in the Ronald Reagan administration and chairman of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation)

“Every president takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. But how well do they perform this basic duty? Modern historians have mostly ignored this question, but Steven Hayward tackles it head on, grading the presidents of the last hundred years. He’s a tough grader, and his conclusions will surprise - and delight - many readers.” (Michael Barone, senior political analyst at the Washington Examiner and co-author of The Almanac of American Politics)

great book for Americans!

incisive view of the last century of the American presidency - it's achievements and failings, as viewed by those who admire the US Constitution.

INOT BAD BUT I TAKE POINTS OFF FOR LYING ABOUT

I take some stars off for lying about the constitutionality of Bush ..
can you believe this author gave Bush a B plus for his constitutionality rating?!?!
BUSH THE GUY WHO RAISED REGULATIONS AND TAXES. BUSH WHO GAVE US A MEDICAID EXPANSION ...MEDICAID D I BELIEVE ...BUSH THAT LITERALLY BROUGH US BAILOUTS OF BIG CORPORATIONS LEADING TO THE TOO BIG TO FAIL DOCTRINE OBAMA JUST EXPANDED AND USED TO URINATE OVER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, SMALL BUSINESS AND COMPETITION IN GENERAL.
BUSH THE NATION BUILDER...THE CONSTITUTION S FOUNDERS ... WASHINGTON BELIEVED THAT THE NATION SHOULD ALLOW OTHER NATIONS TO GOVERN THEIR OWN AS THEY WOULD...THAT AMERICAN BLOOD WAS TO BE SHED ONLY IN THE MOST RARE CONDITIONS AS TO DEFEND AMERICAN INTERESTS. WE COULD HAVE SIMPLY DROPPED BOMBS, KILLED HUSSEIN AND LEFT THAT PLACE... YES THE VACUUM WOULD HAVE BEEN FILLED BY SOMEONE UNSAVORY BUT AT LEAST THEY WOULD RESPECT OUR POWER WHI CH IS ALL ANY LEADER IN THAT REGION IS CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING.... AND THEY'D REMEMBER...BOMB THE US AND LOSE 1000 TIMES THE SOLDIERS AND UR OWN LIVES AS THE LEADERSHIP AS WELL...AS REAGAN DID WITH IRAN. THE WAR IN IRAQ IN FACT SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST INCLUDED SAUDI ARABIA, SEEING THAT THE FUNDING FOR 911 CAME FROM SAUDI ARABIA AND MOST OF THE HIJACKERS WERE FROM SAUDI ARABIA....OH WE COULDNT DO THAT BUT FOR THE BUSH OIL INTERESTS AND A VENDETTA AGAINST HUSSEIN FOR DADDY BUSH.
I BELIEVE IRAQ // AFGHANISTAN WAS A BUSH ATTEMPT AT MAKING AN EXAMPLE FOR THE SAUDIS TO SEE ... AND IT FAILED... THE WAR WASNT THE BAD CALL AS THE WAR BILL PASSED BOTH HOUSES... THE BAD CALL WAS NOT ADDRESSING THE TRUE PROBLEM...RADICAL / ORTHODOX ISLAM, SAUDI ARABIA, AND STAYING AFTERWARDS WITHOUT EVEN TAKING PROPER COMPENSATION FOR OUR AMERICAN BLOOD SHED ... EACH FAMILY THAT LOST A SOLDIER SHOULD HAVR RECEIVED AT LEAST 10 MILLION DOLLARS AND NOT HAVING TO PAY TAXES FOR LIFE, EXTENDED TO THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
INSTEAD, WE STILL DO BUSINESS WITH THE HATEFUL SHAHS , MULLAHS AND HATEFUL LEADERSHIP IN SAUDI ARABIA, IRAN, ETC ...
BUSHBAMA WERE SHAMEFUL PRESIDENTS...THE MOST ELITIST, FECKLESS ONES OF THEIR OWN...
BARBARA BUSH SAID IT BEST WHEN SHE ACCIDENTALLY TOLD JEB.." WEVE HAD ENOUGH BUSHES IN THE WHITE HOUSE..." BASICALLY CONCEDING THAT HE SHOULDNT RUN.
AT LEAST ONE BUSH ISNT COMPLETELY FULL OF SHHHHHIIIIITTTT

the mind blowing education of the presidents and their actions over the last century.

this is an excellent history book telling all sorts of information about presidents of the last century. the shocking details that Americans at least of my generation born 1981, I have no clue about. very little is known about most of these presidents nor very little known about what they did during their terms in office. I'm certainly more educated and my opinions of most of these presidents from the last century or not very high anymore. the surprising thing is to realize just how bad some of the presidents were that allegedly hold to the same political ideology as I do. I recommend it very highly.

Almost really good

This is a decent book to get a conservative view of the our presidents, but the author's passion's get in the way of his points. His treatment of the living Democratic Presidents is disproportionate and granular compared to the wide view he takes on earlier leaders.

This is for people who enjoy text books or presidential history, and no one else.

Interesting facts, but philosophically flawed

This book had several interesting facts for which I was unaware, but the rating system seems to be very flawed. In order to get a high rating, it seems the author took Neo conservative talking points in his ratings, rather than adherence to the constitution. The chapter on George W. Bush gave this president a B+ rating, and failed to mention the constitutional violations by the signing of the patriot act. I would rather have read a true constitutional rating for each of these modern presidents, rather than the skewed neo conservative talking points.

The History our Schools Should be Teaching

An incredible journey of true American history that the left does not want us to learn. Engrossing and fact filled prose showing the truth behind the greatest country in the world. Arm yourself with the truth and understand how our country truly developed into a divided land where many radical leftists try to prevent the reality that they are the root cause of our current environment.

One of the best in the P.I.G. series...

Where does The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Presidents rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Like every book in the P.I.G series, unless your mind is open, you're not going to receive the information. This is an excellent reference - no hold's barred and no party affiliation permitted - offering only facts about each President's actions and how each relates back to the oath to uphold the Constitution. All have failed pretty miserably. Some much worse than others. Unfortunately, this topic is yet another that divides this once great nation; is the Constitution a living, breathing, changing document, or did our Founding Fathers get it right at the beginning?

What does Johnny Heller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really enjoyed Mr. Heller's voice. The gravely quality may not be everyone's cup of tea but I found it especially fitting considering the subject matter.

Any additional comments?

I would love to have a companion version of the first Presidents and how they are graded by the oath to uphold the Constitution.

Good historical perspective but biased analysis

The closer you get to the present the less objective the analysis. While the author is clear that the grade rating is based on adherence to constitutional orthodoxy, supreme court appointments are what matter most in the end. The predictable result is that Republicans of the 20th century get high grades while Democrats fare poorly, mostly Fs. That was not the case for the 19th C presidents. The real intent of the founders was to establish an enduring governing institution for a new sort of nation that would adhere to principles while adapting to the times. All constituencies should have a voice. The president should ultimately reflect the desires of a plurality. Denigrating the desires of a broad constituency, whether or not that constituency seeks strict adherence to constitutional norms or wishes to modify them in the interest of changing social norms, doesn't fairly assess the performance of the chief executive.

Fairly Comprehensive

A comprehensive look at US presidents ability to the uphold the constitution in the 20th century, although it gives a major pass to any president with an R next to their name. No way Nixon gets above a D, he doubled federal regulations on business, Milton Friedman called him our most socialist president.

Fantastic book! Highly Recommended for everyone.

This is really a great book that talks about the Presidents and how some (Coolidge, Reagan, George W. Bush) supported the US Constitution and how some (Wilson, Roosevelt, Carter, and Obama) did not support or tried to destroy the US Constitution. I did not realize how Wilson was almost a dictator! The other Presidents fell somewhere in between.

I was surprised that George W. Bush actually was very good in supporting the constitution, where his father was very bad!

The book also describes the Presidents’ good qualities and bad ones, their accomplishments, what was going on at the time to affect American policy. It’s a real good history lesson from a conservative perspective.

I really liked listening to the Presidents that happened in my lifetime, but I also was interested in the older Presidents and their effect on society and the USA. This book was super interesting and went by very quickly. I wanted more! Will there be a similar book on Obama, Trump, and Biden? I hope so!

Great narration. Highly Recommended for everyone, not just conservatives! I think I may listen to this book again and again!