Presents an assortment of facts about the qualifications and characteristics of U.S. presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton.

It was exactly 4:18 A.M. on a Monday in mid-December. The phone startled me out of an intense sleep. I had exhausted myself over the weekend circulating through a medley of preholiday celebrations, tailored to meet the needs of single, lonely adults. When I had stumbled into my apartment about two hours earlier it had been much too difficult to shed all of my garments. I lay face buried in the pillows, feet dangling over the side of the bed, in a desperate attempt to gather in enough sleep so that I could face what I knew would be a bleak, grey and cold Monday morning. The sound of the bell near my left ear startled me into a full flip from my stomach to my back, just like a crack of thunder had done to me so often on those hot summer nights of my childhood. I wasn't certain of what had awakened me 'till the next burst of vibration from the phone. "What the hell," I thought, "who could be calling now?" Glancing at the lighted dial on the clock-radio I saw the minute flip from 4:17 to 4:18. "Jeez. What kinda nut calls at this hour?" My bedroom was freezing. The tip of my nose, despite having been buried in the pillow, felt like an ice cube.

A vivid political history of the schemes, plots, maneuvers, and conspiracies that have attempted -- successfully and not -- to remove unwanted presidents To limit executive power, the founding fathers created fixed presidential terms of four years, giving voters regular opportunities to remove their leaders. Even so, Americans have often resorted to more dramatic paths to disempower the chief executive. The American presidency has seen it all, from rejecting a sitting president's renomination bid and undermining their authority in office to the more drastic methods of impeachment, and, most brutal of all, assassination. How to Get Rid of a President showcases the political dark arts in action: a stew of election dramas, national tragedies, and presidential departures mixed with party intrigue, personal betrayal, and backroom shenanigans. This briskly paced, darkly humorous voyage proves that while the pomp and circumstance of presidential elections might draw more attention, the way that presidents are removed teaches us much more about our political order.

In 1960, then-Senator John F. Kennedy asked author Richard Neustadt to write a series of memos to plan for the transition into office. Neustadt later also prepared transition memos for Reagan, Dukakis, and Clinton. This work presents these previously unpublished memos, along with new essays by Neustadt and volume editor Jones. The memos provide new information on the workings of several presidential campaigns and administrations, addressing questions on organizing the transition team, staffing, and the roles of the vice president and first lady. Neustadt reveals how he came to advise the presidents-elect and candidates and the thinking behind recommendations he made. Neustadt is affiliated with Harvard University. Jones is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Brookings Institute. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR

In theory, there are only two qualifications needed to run for President of the United States: you should be 35 years of age and a natural born U.S. citizen. But what else does one need to be a contender? Whether you're an elephant or a donkey, or whatever animal may be associated with an independent candidate, this book is the key to finding out if you're cut out for the job. &break;&break;So You Want to Be President? Takes you from choosing your party affiliation, through the primaries and ultimately to the general election. Along the way quizzes, tests and obstacles test your presidential mettle. In the back of the book is a handy scorecard for readers to track their progress toward 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

With sidebars on historical presidential gaffes, favorite vacation spots, andmore, this book teaches readers the nuts and bolts of what to do if they wakeup one day in the Oval Office.