An Illustrated Guide to Modern American Presidents: From Theodore Roosevelt to Barack Obama: a presidential roll call from 1901 to the current day.

The 20th century proved to be one of immense and rapid social and economic change for the United States of America. The dawn of the new century ushered in a new president, Theordore Roosevelt, with a mission to change the face of politics, society, economic life and international relations. He was the first president to explore the possibilities of presidential power, using his influence to formulate progressive policies that would improve the standards of living and working for millions of Americans. His example proved a difficult one to follow and many of the century's presidents and their times in office have faded into obscurity, or failed to live up to the challenges presented. This illustrated encyclopedia of the presidents from 1901 presents a factual account of each of the presidents who have stood for office, and sets them within context of the times in which they each presided. Many have become synonymous with domestic and international events, such as Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, Richard Nixon and Watergate, Ronald Reagan and Star Wars, and Jimmy Carter and the Iranian hostage crisis. Alongside each of the presidential portraits are snapshots of industrial, economic, social and political developments that have changed the world, such as Henry Ford and the mass production of the motor car, the Civil Rights movement, the invention of the atomic bomb, the collapse of communism and international terrorism.More than 240 photographs, facsimile newsreel images, maps and fine art paintings help to provide a visual account of each presidential era, making this book a valuable reference for all those interested in America's social and political history. An illustrated encyclopedia of presidents from 1901 to the current day, with over 240 photographs and paintings Includes an analysis of each leader as politician, statesman and private individual, setting each president in the context of major social, political and economic developments, and discussing their influence on the course of history Provides an overview of the memorable figures who have made their mark on American political history including Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Martin Luther King, Franklin D Roosevelt, John F Kennedy, Richard Nixon and the popular election of the country's first black president, Barack Obama Looks at the role of president as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Head of State, Head of Government and Chief Executive, and discusses how each president has exploited the powers at their disposal Charts the momentous social and economic history of the times, including the building of the Panama Canal, the San Francisco earthquake, The Wall Street Crash, the Square Deal, the invention of flight, silent movies, radio, television, space travel and the internet, as well as the rise of popular culture Analyzes the implications and legacies of war including World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, the Iraq War and the war on terror, as well as international crises that have altered the course of world diplomacy