``Over 400 profiles of American men and women who have been elected to national office or appointed by the president'' make up this new biographical dictionary. Every president, presidential candidate, vice president, secretary of state, chief justice of the Supreme Court, and Speaker of the House is included, as well as selected members of Congress, diplomats, agency directors, and presidential advisers. The profiles (one-half to two pages in length) emphasize accomplishments as well as biographical facts. Except for its inclusion of selected members of Congress and other officials, this is very similar in coverage to the recent Bio graphical Directory of the U.S. Executive Branch, 1774-1989 (Greenwood, 1990), which includes over 650 biographical sketches of all presidents, vice presidents, heads of state, and cabinet officials. The Complete Book of U.S. Presi dents (Dembner, 1984) also provides extensive biographical information on not only all presidents through Ronald Reagan, but their vice presidents and all cabinet members (not just secretary of state as this new work does) as well as extensive commentary on a president's personal history, previous political career, presidential campaign, accomplishments while in office, and retirement. It also includes a bibliography for each, lacking in American Political Leaders . In conclusion, this new reference work is an optional purchase, as it is too similar to the Biographi cal Directory of the U.S. Executive Branch , although it is more up to date than The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents .-- Louise Stwalley, Univ. of Colorado at Denver Lib.
Brief profiles of some 400 people: presidents and vice presidents, chief justices, secretaries of state, Speakers of the House, and a selection of diplomats, government agency directors, presidential advisers, senators and representatives, and a few colonial and revolutionary figures. Includes a political leaders timeline, but no indexing. For public or school libraries. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
