The president of the United States is a highly visible public figure, a bearer of immense responsibility, and the subject of intense scrutiny. He is held accountable for war, economic depression, domestic strife, national security, partisan politics, and overseas conflict. Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary, Second Edition closely examines the hopes and disappointments, the victories and defeats, and the integrity and weaknesses of the men who have held this office. Each of the profiles presented in this book traces the points at which presidential character, the exercise of power, and external events intersect. Presidents, Second Edition presents information suitable for exploratory research or for a casual reading of the history of the United States's chief executives and their legacies. Presidents, Second Edition contains: biographies and portraits of all the presidents, a detailed, up-to-date chronology of the life of each president, suggested further reading, including new sources, about each president, an appendix that presents personal facts about the presidents, election results, and details of the presidential cabinets, an updated general bibliography and an index. Book jacket.