Wednesday, August 7, 2013

False claims.



Summer reading time. Jean Smith's biography of Eisenhower finished and put on the library shelves. Probably the best Eisenhower biography so far.  Long suffering Mamie Eisenhower gets full credit for her role as wife and confidante. After falling over at a formal reception the Presidents opponents  claimed that she was an alcoholic. The real reason was that she suffered from chronic Meniere's disease.

15 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

That's a hefty dose of American presidential material on the bookshelves there Angus!

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Show a weakness and the opposition goes in for the kill.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

Kittypup said...

Funny... I knew very little about 'Ike' until a couple of Summers ago I picked up a copy of 'Letters to Mamie'. My holiday read - love good biographical books whilst stretching out in the sun!
Ike comes across as such a loving, caring and kind individual, a total contrast to the type of leader one would expect. A great read - I thoroughly recommend.

Julie said...

DO you think that Eisenhower gets a bit overlooked with Kennedys and Nixon being more famous ? Id o agree about the 'hefty dose' on the shelf.

Whispering Walls said...

La pauvre!

houndstooth said...

I love history, and it sounds like you found a great slice of it!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Your shelf of books looks much like my husbands --He read this book as well and thought it was a well written and entertaining biography of who he calls our last warrior president. He shared parts of it with me while he was reading it, and it was/is full of interesting details...

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

And don't forget she had to endure that dreadful hairdo for years.
A fringe cut way too short.

Louise said...

Apart from piles of books beneath side tables I just have one fairly large free standing bookshelf and it became full a long time ago. Now unless I LOVE a book and want to own it I use my nook. I LOVE the nook. I never thought I even wanted one all that much as I like real bound books and looking at bookshelves just makes me happy.

Ann K. said...

If you like the Ike bio, you might also enjoy The Fifties by David Halberstam.

Unknown said...

Books and pets make my house a home. A friend is helping me de-clutter. She wants to focus on the books; I want to focus on everything but the books. Always appreciate a recommended book. Thank you.

Kari said...

"Unsteady on her feet". Um....... So Now it's gone from Martinis to Meniere's . Convenient.

Emm said...

Have you read the Caro books on LBJ, although there's so much there that it could be a lifetime occupation. Another interesting Eisenhower book is by son John, The Bitter Woods, on the Battle of the Bulge.

VirginiaC said...

You have got your summertime reading all planned out...enjoy.

VirginiaC said...

You have got your summertime reading all planned out...enjoy.