Background
Published in February 2024, “Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House” by Jared Cohen examines the post-presidential lives of seven U.S. presidents: Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Grover Cleveland, William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover, Jimmy Carter, and George W. Bush. The book explores how each navigated life after leaving the Oval Office, highlighting endeavors such as Jefferson’s founding of the University of Virginia and Carter’s humanitarian work with The Carter Center. Cohen delves into their personal reinventions and the impact of their post-presidential activities on their legacies.
My Thoughts
I learned a great deal from this book as it knit together whole swaths of American history through the lives of the Presidents. Or more correctly, after the Presidency.
I love to delve into history and learn about the problems of the day. It puts so much in context and shows the human experience really doesn’t change that much. They had their problems just like we have ours today, which felt just as pressing and world shaking. Yet, most issues from years ago are simply forgotten. It reminds me of the week before Sept 11th 2001 and that the big headline that week was how Anne Heche thought she was God. Now my kids quite rightly say, “Ann who?”
Here are a few takeaways from the book.
- Thomas Jefferson wanted to make a University and considered that his lasting legacy.
- John Quincy Adams became much more influential in congress where he tirelessly fought for the end of slavery.
- Grover Cleveland was known for his honesty and was re-elected during a time of corruption.
- William Howard Taft never wanted to be president but wanted to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (He got his wish after a long wait.) He was also the beloved governor of the Philippines for a time.
- Herbert Hoover was known as the great humanitarian and was beloved in Europe.
- Jimmy Carter was surprisingly partisan. I knew about his humanitarian work, but didn’t know how bitter he and his wife were about being put out of the Whitehouse.
- George W. Bush took office and all the Ws were removed from the keyboards from the Clinton administration. That struck me wrong. However, Bush became a painter and now expresses himself in paint without selling and donating his paintings.
Recommendation
Great book and I really enjoyed it.