Description: The esteemed American historian William E. Leuchtenburg invites readers to revisit the years at the birth of the republic when Americans could take pride in leaders of ideals, high competence, and integrity who headed their government--chief executives who, though not unflawed, had an abiding commitment to the success of the vulnerable government that had emerged from the revolutionary cause to which they had devoted themselves.
Review Quotes: "From one of the greatest American historians of our time comes this absorbing book of a lifetime. All gratitude to our national treasure William Leuchtenburg, because at this troubled political moment, our country could not need his wisdom and brilliance more." -- Michael Beschloss
"I know of no one who has a greater grasp of the American presidency than William E. Leuchtenburg, who proves with each new book his mastery. Here is the beginning - the first six men who held the highest office in the land, and their landmark contributions to the machine we hope 'will go of itself' forever." -- Ken Burns, Filmmaker"This book does a very good job looking at the first six presidents, from Washington to John Quincy Adams. It looks at both each presidents' successes and failures as well as their strengths and weaknesses. It was a very unbiased look at the early presidents, one that successfully avoided any hagiography." -- MR BOOK'S BOOK REVIEWS"Skillfully drawing from both original sources and subsequent historical interpretation, Leuchtenburg engagingly describes the evolution of the US presidency at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and colorfully highlights the strengths and weaknesses of its first occupants." -- Choice"Patriot Presidents provides a very useful overview of the development of the presidency in the early republic." -- Steven E. Siry, Presidential Studies Quarterly