Books by James C. Humes

Presidents and Their Pens: The Story of White House Speechwriters explores 23 presidencies through the detailed analysis of speeches including LincolnΓÇÖs Gettysburg Address, Teddy RooseveltΓÇÖs ΓÇ£Big StickΓÇ¥ speech, EisenhowerΓÇÖs farewell to the nation, and Bill ClintonΓÇÖs compassionate words in the wake of tragedy. Confidant and wordsmith to five Republican presidents (Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush), professor of language and noted historian James C. Humes tells how and why presidential speeches have marked milestones in our nationΓÇÖs history, from Washington through Obama. Readers will find out how FDR brought down the house with humor, how ΓÇ£Give ΓÇÿem hellΓÇ¥ Harry Truman planned his Whistle-Stop Tours, and how Ronald Reagan defied his advisors to make history at the Berlin Wall. Presenting stories of greatness as well as tragically unfulfilled promise, Presidents and Their Pens also features an introduction by author and historian Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

This book shares the observations made in 1998 by Chinese Foreign Service experts, who had planned meetings of President Nixon with Mao Tse-tung and Chou En-lai, during interviews by the authors and Edward Nixon, the President's brother.

A study of American political history through the prism of selected presidential addresses. It reveals how presidents used major addresses to give a theme for their administration, to introduce history-making legislation or programmes, or to rally a majority of the nation behind their policies.