Gene Smith (1) (1929–2012)

You won't come across a better or more disgusting collection of racism (particularly anti-Chinese), stories of boxing matches, rat baiting, bull fights (bull vs. bull), fascination with obscure "sports" like cannonball catching, tales of young girls led astray--well, by now you should get the idea. There's only so much of this you can take at once, expecially the repeated stories of lynchings, not presented with 100% approval mind you, but clearly with sympathy. The illustratios are also show more great and show that the idea of feminine beauty, or at least the Police Gazette' idea of it, has changed a lot since the 1890s. I would not recommend this for everyone. You know if you want to read this already. show less

Read as an abridged version. Somewhat tedious, somewhat interesting, but about Wilson's final 3 years, which never gets taught in high schools (or earlier). There is something very familiar, writing this review in 2024, about a president whose party wants him to step down instead of running for a 2nd term. Wilson refused, because he was strongly set on getting the League of Nations accepted by the US. As it turns out, Congress would not vote for his negotiated terms, Wilson had a number of show more cranial thromboses, almost died, and spent the remaining years of his life barely doing anything. The Congress and his Cabinet did what they could, but there was no leadership...or, worse, his few comments hampered them from doing work that needed doing. He even wanted to try for a 3rd term. Instead, the US got Harding who, according to this book, gave all his appointments to friends who pilfered public funds.
I would not want anyone to infer my preferred presidential candidate. In this current election, I think we have 2 candidates who should both be asked to step down. show less

What happens when a President becomes disabled and is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of his position? That was the dilemma in 1919 when Pres. Woodrow Wilson suffered a variety of health maladies including strokes and found himself bedridden and unable to perform his job. His wife and his doctor essentially carried out and managed Presidential duties. Ordinarily the Vice President steps in and carries out the presidential duties – – however Wilson's vice president had no interest show more in being president. A grumbling Congress and Cabinet offered little resistance.

What struck this reader was how implausible this scenario would have been today. Wilson would never have been able to stay in the White House given his health situation. Mrs. Wilson has been credited with actually being the first woman President as she made a number of policy and personnel decisions. And like Nancy Reagan, she strictly managed the President's schedule and travels.

Woodrow Wilson was obsessed with the creation of the League of Nations. Obsessed to the point where he sacrificed his own health and life. He even considered running for a third term despite his failing health. Interesting history – – very well researched. show less

In American Gothic, Gene Smith recounts the history of the 19th century Booth family, which spawned Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Although John and the assassination are the author's focus, he also tells of John's brother Edwin and his father Junius, both of whom (like John) were famous actors in their day. Smith adopts a dramatic approach that sometimes borders on melodrama.

"There was a streak of madness in the family. In some, it took the form of an uncanny gift for the show more stage that made the theatrical Booths the toast of Europe and America. But it had a dark side as well: alcoholism, violence, melancholia -- and in John Wilkes Booth, the capacity to turn his frightening obsessions into terrifying reality."

In the volume that contained the abridged Reader's Digest version, the dust jacket takes the melodrama to an extreme -- tantalizing the prospective reader with the possibility that JW Booth eluded his pursuers and survived into the 20th century. This is, of course, a highly dubious claim for which no real evidence exists.

The events surrounding Lincoln's assassination and John Booth's flight and capture have been told many times, and I am sure that much better sources are available. In particular, I would recommend James Swanson's thrilling Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. However, Gene Smith's American Gothic is a passable and entertaining account, one that has the benefit of portraying John Booth in the context of his famous family. show less