Showing results for "American Icon" in Presidents & Heads of State

Even compared to his fellow founders, George Washington stands tall. Our first president has long been considered a stoic hero, holding himself above the rough-and-tumble politics of his day. Now John Ferling peers behind that image, carefully burnished by Washington himself, to show us a leader who was not only not above politics but a canny infighter---a master of persuasion, manipulation, and deniability.

The New York Times bestselling author of George Washington's Secret Six and Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates turns to two other heroes of the nation: Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington. When President Theodore Roosevelt welcomed the country’s most visible Black man, Booker T...

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, led the nation through one of its most challenging periods in history—the American Civil War. Born in a humble log cabin in Kentucky in 1809, Lincoln's journey from a self-educated lawyer to the leader of a divided nation is a testament to his determination, intellect, and moral compass. Lincoln's unwavering commitment to preserving the Union, abolishing slavery, and promoting equality left an enduring legacy that continues to shape the United States to this day.

Abraham Lincoln was born into poverty in a log cabin and was raised on the frontier primarily in Indiana. He was self-educated and became a lawyer, Whig Party leader, Illinois state legislator, and U.S. Congressman from Illinois. In 1849, he returned to his law practice but became vexed by the opening of additional lands to slavery. He reentered politics in 1854, becoming a leader in the Republican Party, and reached a national audience in the 1858 debates against Stephen Douglas.