American Political Leaders 1789-2009 / Edition 1

by CQ Press

Overview

This handy single volume features a wealth of fascinating biographical information on approximately 9,000 of the most important U.S. elected and appointed leaders. Newly updated, it includes key facts on political leaders spanning 220 years of American history. Organized for quick, easy reference, the book contains six chapters in which readers will find the following on presidents, vice presidents, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, and governors:

• Basic Facts including all significant biographical data, such as birth and death dates, periods of public service, and party affiliations
• Special Information including boxed features and analytical commentary on topics such as presidential disability and succession; religious affiliations of the U.S. presidents and Supreme Court justices; White House hostesses; and women, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans in Congress, the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, and the White House

This easy-to-use resource also offers an appendix of additional reference tables on Congress, including sessions held, leadership, and committee chairmen.

American Political Leaders 1789-2010 is the perfect reference guide for researchers, students, and interested citizens looking for names, dates, and other essential information on U.S. leaders in one convenient, reliable source.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781604265378
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	09/22/2009
Series:	American Political Leaders
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	501
Product dimensions:	7.22(w) x 10.26(h) x 1.18(d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Presidents 1

Presidential Disability and the Line of Succession (box) 2

Nationalities of the Presidents (box) 5

Religious Affiliations of the Presidents (box) 6

A Biographical Summary of the First Ladies (box) 10

White House Hostesses (box) 12

Presidents: Biographies 13

Chapter 2 Vice Presidents 15

Vice Presidents Who Served in Congress (box) 18

From VP to President (box) 19

Vice Presidents: Biographies 21

Chapter 3 Cabinet Members 23

Fifteen Executive Departments (box) 24

Cabinet Holdovers (box) 27

Cabinet Members: Biographies 29

Chapter 4 Supreme Court Justices 43

Seventeen Chief Justices (box) 44

Geographical Considerations in Appointments (box) 46

Catholic and Jewish Justices (box) 48

Women Justices (box) 49

Longest Vacancies in the Court's History (box) 51

Supreme Court Justices: Biographies 54

Chapter 5 Members of Congress 59

Members of Congress Who Became President (box) 60

Attempts at Limiting Terms (box) 61

Age Structure of Congress (box) 63

Members' Occupations, 111th Congress (box) 64

Number of Women Members in Congress, 1947-2009 (box) 65

Number of African-American Members in Congress, 1947-2009 (box) 66

Number of Hispanic Members in Congress, 1947-2009 (box) 68

Congressional Service (box) 69

Members of Congress: Biographies 71

Chapter 6 Governors 275

Party Lineups (box) 276

Length of Governor Terms (box) 277

Limitations on Governor Terms (box) 278

State Sources for Governors (box) 279

Governors: Biographies 281

Appendix 327

Party Abbreviations 328

U.S. Presidents and Vice Presidents 329

Cabinet Members and Chief Justices, 1789-2009 331

Political PartyAffiliations in Congress and the Presidency, 1789-2009 355

Sessions of the U.S. Congress, 1789-2009 358

Speakers of the House of Representatives, 1789-2009 371

Leaders of the House Since 1899 372

Leaders of the Senate Since 1911 374

Congressional Committee Chairs Since 1947 376

Women Members of Congress, 1917-2009 383

African-American Members of Congress, 1870-2009 386

Hispanic Members of Congress, 1877-2009 388

Name Index 389

Subject Index 461

Editorial Reviews

Gr 10 Up—This "quick fact finder" provides historical and brief biographical facts about U.S. presidents, vice presidents, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, and state governors. Each chapter opens with a brief, clearly written, and objective introduction to a political office, discussing the qualifications and election or appointment process, the development of the office over time, and interesting facts about it. The introductions are followed by information about all who have held the position, including name, family political connections, birth and death dates, party, and other political offices held. Sidebars discuss topics such as presidential succession and geographical balance on the Supreme Court (one mistakenly places Gerald Ford's Congressional service in the Senate instead of in the House of Representatives). Charts depict data such as the religious affiliations of the presidents and the average age and ethnic makeup of modern Congresses. Twelve appendixes list presidents; cabinet members; Supreme Court justices; sessions of Congress; Congressional leadership; and female, African-American, and Hispanic members of Congress. Indexing is by name only. An additional purchase for AP students who have a specific need for this type of information.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO

School Library Journal