Presidents by Fate

Throughout the history of the United States, only nine men have become president without having first been elected. These men were elevated to the White House by the death or failure of a sitting president, and their legacies are as mixed as their circumstances. This book evaluates the similarities and distinct differences of these men, their varying degrees of ambition and readiness, and how they each handled their suddenly enormous responsibility. Some became presidential legends, while others are counted among the worst presidents of all time. Their shared stories can shed light on America's political development during the last two centuries, and on what the next might hold.