A review by adaminmelrose
1920: The Year of the Six Presidents by David Pietrusza

5.0

With the exception of Pietrusza’s vague favor for Harding and vague antipathy for Wilson and FDR, I thought this was a fascinating recapitulation of an election that actually involved 6.5 presidents (I give partial credit for Taft). Numerous times throughout the narrative, I found myself taking to Wikipedia to learn more about someone or other, which is generally the sign of a historical story told compellingly.

If anything else, this book convinced me of the worth of Calvin Coolidge, whom, as a socialist myself, I’m supposed to hate (Coolidge is considered to be the most small-l libertarian president in our history). The simple idea of “shut up and listen” is one that I need to take to heart more often.

I had read this once before but was glad to do so again in light of the current election.