Harry J. Sievers (–1977)

In researching the best biography for Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, I ran into books that didn't do a good job or volumes. I decided on the volumes and am glad I did.

[b:Benjamin Harrison: Hoosier Warrior: 1|710845|Benjamin Harrison Hoosier Warrior 1 (Signature Ser. ; Vol. 1)|Harry J. Sievers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1177530124l/710845._SX50_.jpg|697112] covers 1833-1865
[b:Benjamin Harrison Vol. 2: Hoosier show more Statesman|710837|Benjamin Harrison Vol. 2 Hoosier Statesman|Harry J. Sievers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387709843l/710837._SX50_.jpg|697104] covers 1865-1888
And since Volume 3 was revied as rushed and lacked depth, I will finish with [b:The Presidency of Benjamin Harrison|1822582|The Presidency of Benjamin Harrison|Homer E. Socolofsky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356130122l/1822582._SX50_.jpg|1822218] by [a:Homer E. Socolofsky|832895|Homer E. Socolofsky|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png].

This is one of the most in-depth biographies of a President I have read but it never feels dry. It gives a looking into the maturation and path Harrison is lead down as well as chooses. How he paves his own path while also having to live up the standards of being the grandson of a President. How he joined the newly formed Republican party even though his father did not approve and his bold and honorable actions in forming and commanding a regiment in the Civil War, eventually earning the rank Brevet Brigadier General.

I look forward to reading the next section of Harrison's life as he enters more strongly into the political arena. show less

Volume 2 covers Benjamins Harrison's life after the Civil War as a lawyer, Govenor, and Congressman, up to the point of being elected.

I enjoyed Volume 1 better as this part of Harrison's life is less eventful but takes up more pages. A reluctant politician, Harrison uses not being in the forefront of politics or scandal to his advantage to rapidly being a prominent member of the Republican Party. His greatest asset seems to be his speech making ability, and like several Presidents before, show more becomes the dark horse, second choice candidate to win the nomination. show less

1421 Benjamin Harrison: Hoosier Warrior 1833-1865, by Henry J. Sievers, S.J. (read 27 Nov 1976) This is the first volume of a three volume biography of Harrison. It has few faults as a work-a-piece biography, the main fault being that it is laudatory to excess. Harrison was born Aug 20, 1833, in southwestern Ohio and after attending Miami of Ohio and studying law in a law office in Cincinnati he began practice in Indianapolis in 1854. He had a hard struggle at first, but rose fairly rapidly show more and in 1860 was elected (?) Supreme Court Reporter for the Indiana Supreme Court. He went to war in 1862 and was a one-star general by war's end. The book is well-organized, chronological, well-footnoted--in a word, definitive. So I will read the other two volumes. (And I did, the second one on 11 Dec 1976 and the third on 27 Sept 1992!) show less

1426 Benjamin Harrison: Hoosier Statesman From the Civil War to the White House 1865-1888, by Harry J. Sievers, S. J. (read 11 Dec 1976) This is the second of Sievers' three volume biography of Harrison and is very interesting except that there is very little analysis and it is far too laudatory. But the subject matter is attention-holding. I found it amazing that Levi P. Morton was selected as the nominee for Vice-president in 1888 and apparently no one even asked Harrison whom he wanted as show more his running mate. How times have changed! (I did not get around to reading Volume III until 27 Sept 1993!) show less