The Presidential Book Club began with a simple conversation over a meal with my friend Daniel. During that discussion, Daniel remarked that if I ever began a new reading list, I should let him know so that he could join. Out of that exchange emerged the idea of a focused project on the American presidency. Whether the suggestion originated with him or me is uncertain, but the outcome was clear. We agreed to launch a book club centered on the lives, leadership, and legacies of United States presidents, beginning with George Washington and progressing in chronological order (Ellis, 2004).
The group started in the summer of 2025 and is modest in size but strong in purpose. At present there are only four members who are committed to reading and reflecting on the readings when we get together. Though we often extend invitations to friends and acquaintances to join, none have taken up the offer. The prospect of reading multiple volumes on the lives of presidents does not appeal to everyone. For us, however, the challenge of understanding the evolution of the presidency and the broader context of American political life is both intellectually engaging and historically significant (Ferling, 2009).
The structure of the club is straightforward. We are progressing through the presidents in chronological order, beginning with George Washington, and examining both the individuals and the historical forces that defined their administrations. Each president is introduced with a concise overview, details of their cabinet and family, and a list of books connected to their time in office. By following this format, the club creates a consistent framework that balances structured study with open discussion. In doing so, it functions not merely as a reading group but as a collaborative exploration of the presidency and the political development of the United States (Meacham, 2018).
Presidents of The United States of America
George Washington
Served two terms between April 30th, 1789 - March 4, 1797
Book Read:
George Washington at "Head Quarters, Dobbs Ferry", by Mary Donovan
Book Summary: This short historical work by Mary Donovan highlights a pivotal moment in 1781 when George Washington established his headquarters at Dobbs Ferry, New York. The book situates Washington’s leadership within the final stages of the Revolutionary War and emphasizes his ability to balance military necessity with political vision. Donovan illustrates how Washington’s presence at Dobbs Ferry underscored both his logistical command and his symbolic role as a unifying figure at a critical turning point in the struggle for independence (Donovan, 2007).
Cabinet:
Sec of State: Thomas Jefferson, Edmund Randolph, Timothy Pickering
Sec of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton, Oliver Wolcott
Sec of War: Henry Knox, Timothy Pickering, James McHenry
Attorney General: Edmund Randolph, William Bradford, Charles Lee
Family:
Wife was Martha “Dandridge Custis” Washington
Step childern were John Parke Custis, Martha Parke Custis
Other Notable Readings:
Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution by Brian Kilmeade & Don Yaeger
1776 by David McCullough
George Washington: A Selection of Letters by George Washington
George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior by George Washington
George Washington’s Farewell Address by George Washington
John Adams
Served one term between March 4, 1797 - March 3, 1801
Book Read:
First Family, by Joseph J. Ellis
Book Summary: This book explores the lives of John and Abigail Adams, highlighting their partnership as both a personal and political bond. Through their extensive correspondence, Ellis illustrates how their marriage provided a foundation for navigating the challenges of the Revolutionary era, shaping both domestic life and national politics. The book presents the Adamses as a model of intellectual companionship and resilience during America’s formative years (Ellis 2010).
Cabinet:
VP: Thomas Jefferson
Sec of State: Timothy Pickering; John Marshall
Attorney General: Charles Lee
Postmaster General: Joseph Habersham
Sec of Treasury: Samuel Dexter, Oliver Wolcott
Sec of Navy: Benjamin Stoddert
Sec of War: James McHenry, Samuel Dexter
Family
Wife was Abigail “Smith” Adams
Children: John Quincy Adams, Charles Adams, Thomas Boylston Adams, Abigail Adams smith, Susanna Adams
Other Notable Readings:
A Reading of the Inaugural Address of President John Adams
John Adams, by David McCullough
Passion Sage, Joseph J. Ellis
Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis
John Adams Under Fire, by Dan Abrams
Thomas Jefferson
Served two terms between March 4, 1801 - March 4 1809
Book Read:
Master of the Mountian, Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves, by Henry Wiencek
Book Summary: This book reexamines Jefferson’s legacy by confronting the stark contradictions between his political ideals and his practices as a slaveholder. Wiencek challenges the long-standing portrayal of Jefferson as a conflicted yet benevolent master, presenting evidence that Jefferson not only tolerated but also profited significantly from slavery at Monticello. Drawing from Jefferson’s own writings, plantation records, and contemporary accounts, Wiencek argues that Jefferson’s commitment to liberty coexisted with a pragmatic exploitation of enslaved labor, particularly in the form of nail-making enterprises and agricultural profits. The book underscores how Jefferson’s economic calculations reinforced the institution of slavery rather than undermined it, complicating his image as a founding father of freedom (Wiencek, 2012).
Cabinet:
VP: Aaron Burr, George Clinton
Sec of State: James Madison
Attorney General: Levi Lincoln, John Breckinridge, Caesar Rodney
Postmaster General: Joseph Habersham, Gideon Granger
Sec of Treasury: Samuel Dexter, Albert Gallatin
Sec of Navy: Benjamin Stoddert, Robert Smith, Henry Dearborn
Family:
Wife was Martha “Wayles Skelton” Jefferson (10/30/1748 - 9/06/1782)
First Ladies were Martha Jefferson Randolph, Maria Jerrerson Eppes, Dolley Madison because his wife had passed away before becoming President.
Children with Martha Jefferson: Martha “Patsy” Jefferson, Jane Jefferson, unnamed son, Mary “Maria or Polly” Jefferson, Lucy Jefferson (11/03/1780-4/15/1781) and Lucy Jefferson (5/08/1782-10/13/1784)
Children with Sally Hemings, Martha Jefferson half-sister: unnamed first son (1790), Harriet Hemings (1795), Beverly (1798), unnamed daughter (1799), Harriet Hemings (1801), Madison Hemings (1805) and Eston Hemings (1808)
Other Notable Readings:
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham
The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, by Annette Gordon-Reed
White Over Black by Jordan Winthrop
James Madison
Served two terms between March 4, 1809 - March 3, 1817
Book Read:
Dolley and James Madison: An Unlikely Love Story that Saved America by Rodney Smith
Book Summary: This book portrays the partnership between James Madison and Dolley Madison as one of equal influence and mutual support. He emphasizes how Dolley’s social intelligence and grace complemented Madison’s political insight, and argues that her role in shaping Washington’s civic life was essential to the early republic’s survival and coherence. Smith presents their bond as not only personal but political, illustrating how their collaboration helped stabilize a young nation during tumultuous times (Smith 2019).
Cabinet:
VP: Elbridge Gerry, George Clinton
Sec of State: Robert Smith, James Monroe
Attorney General: Caesar Rodney, William Pinkney, Richard Rush,
Postmaster General: Gideon Granger, Return Meigs
Sec of Treasury: Albert Gallatin, George Campbell, Alexander Dallas, William Crawford
Sec of Navy: Paul Hamilton, William Jones, Benjamin Crowninshield
Sec of War: William Crawford, George Graham, William Eustis, John Armstrong, James Monroe, Alexander Dallas
Family:
Wife and First Lady: Dolley “Payne Todd” Madison, May 20, 1768 - July 12, 1849
Children from Dolley Madison’s first marriage, John Payne Todd, William Temple Todd
Other Notable Readings:
A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison by Paul Jennings
Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis
Revolutionary Summer by Joseph Ellis
References
Donovan, M. (2007). George Washington at “Head Quarters, Dobbs Ferry”. Dobbs Ferry Historical Society.
Ellis, J.J. (2004). His Excellency: George Washington. New York: Vintage Books.
Ellis, J.J., 2010. First Family: Abigail and John Adams. New York: Knopf.
Ferling, J. (2009). Independence: The Struggle to Set America Free. New York: Bloomsbury Press.
Meacham, J. (2018). The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels. New York: Random House.
Smith, Rodney K. Dolley and James Madison: An Unlikely Love Story That Saved America. Outskirts Press, 2019.
Wiencek, H. (2012) Master of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.