Speaking: I’d be grateful if you would pass my name on to
people if you know of opportunities to speak to a group or organization with
which you are associated.
More about 101 Presidential Insults:
Private and Public Insults: Sometimes in private letters,
diaries, and conversations, they let their guard down on what they really
thought about a former, deceased, current, or future president. At other times,
these insults have been audaciously proclaimed in public speeches, books, and
to the media. By their own words, our presidents have demonstrated their flawed
humanity with insults that are often humorous and sometimes shocking for their
lack of decorum. We may laugh or perhaps wince as we read these 101
presidential insults.
Examples of Insults: The presidents have labeled one another
as dangerous, ignorant, liars, obstinate, selfish, unfit, vain, and weak. And
these are just some of the commonplace words. They have also used biting and
bitter phrases such as gibbering idiot, little schmuck, and young
whippersnapper. Some bizarre insults require research and a dictionary to
understand, such as "Byzantine logothete."
Book Contents: The book includes:
- Introduction: A thoughtful and challenging introduction calling for
increased civility in our private lives and the public square.
- Quotations: 101 humorous, shocking, and sobering quotes by the
presidents about other presidents that includes a brief description of the
occasion, source (letter, diary, speech, etc.), and date for each insult. There
is at least one quotation about each president, demonstrating that such
behavior has been around since the nation's founding and occurs regardless of
political party affiliation.
- Glossary: A glossary of the obscure terms used by presidents about
other presidents such as "honeyfuggler," "bungalow mind,"
and “puzzlewit.”
- Lists: Three lists (alphabetical by insult, about/by list, and
numerical analysis by source of insults) help the reader to view these caustic
comments from different angles.
- End notes citing primary sources for the quotes (when
known), or reliable secondary sources that reference primary sources. The end
notes are a significant contribution to documenting these quotes. I chose not
to include some quotes that I could not track down.
2020 Challenges: The upcoming presidential election will be
a test of our national character and the character of the candidates.
Ultimately, our survival as a nation depends on our ability to treat others
with respect, and to promote civility, consensus, and compromise.
Praise for 101 Presidential Insults
"Mike Purdy has written a terrific book. As a
presidential historian, he has a gift for discovering just the right anecdotes
that help us understand our presidents better. Really well done."
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