Hi Gabe, today you wrote that the law lists today (February 16) as Washington's Birthday. I remember going to school when we had vacation for the actual Washington's and Lincoln's Birthdays. When a new law was passed making most holidays fall on a Monday to create three day weekends, the two birthdays and the two days off were combined into one President's Day. Thanks for all your great columns. I look forward to your email every day.
Destiny of the Republic is my favorite president tangential book I’ve ever read. Check out another one of Millard’s: The River of Doubt for one of my favorite post-presidential reads about Teddy Rosevelt’s adventure in the Amazon.
For Luddites like me - these all look like great reads. How about a list at the end that I can copy on one page. Even the copying part sounds kind of retro?
Thanks Gabe. There is a brand new book out on Lincoln Boss Lincoln the partisan life of Abraham Lincoln
I’m finishing one up right now, Boutwell, Radical Republican….. It is about one of the most influential politicians you never heard of. He was a confident of Lincoln and Grant, was one of the offers of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments and one of the best Secretaries of Treasury the country has ever known
Agree that “What It Takes” is one of the best non-fiction books of all time…for books about the Presidency, would have to add “All The President’s Men” !
Yes, although not an official federal holiday (i.e. no one gets the day off), it was established by act of Congress in 1949 as the day to commemorate the adoption of the flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.
Thank you Gabe. I have read at least one biography of every President from Washington thru Ford, in order, and am currently reading “His Very Best” about Carter which you recommend. I also second your recommendation for “Destiny of the Republic”, although I wasn’t wild about the recent production of it on Netflix.
My favorite of the biographies I have read is Edmund Morris’s three volume biography on Theodore Roosevelt.
Gabe, thanks for these recommendations; I look forward to digging into a few of them this week since I have California to/from east coast flights this week. Tragically my niece (36) passed away last Tuesday and her services are later this week. Leukemia dxd late January and chemo started but then she had an unexpected brain bleed and with insufficient platelets despite infusions given, she passed away hours later.
An American Melodrama: The Presidential Campaign of 1968 written by three British journalists—Lewis Chester, Godfrey Hodgson, and Bruce Page. My first election, campaigning for Clean Gene. I was so angry when I read that he preferred to stay in his hotel room reading poetry with Robert Lowell, instead of getting out on the hustings--probably put me off liberals for life.
Hi Gabe, today you wrote that the law lists today (February 16) as Washington's Birthday. I remember going to school when we had vacation for the actual Washington's and Lincoln's Birthdays. When a new law was passed making most holidays fall on a Monday to create three day weekends, the two birthdays and the two days off were combined into one President's Day. Thanks for all your great columns. I look forward to your email every day.
I remember too!
Destiny of the Republic is my favorite president tangential book I’ve ever read. Check out another one of Millard’s: The River of Doubt for one of my favorite post-presidential reads about Teddy Rosevelt’s adventure in the Amazon.
The River of Doubt is an incredible story. I also recommend it.
Totally. Her descriptions of the plants/bugs/fish in the rainforest blew my mind
For Luddites like me - these all look like great reads. How about a list at the end that I can copy on one page. Even the copying part sounds kind of retro?
I highly recommend all of Ron Chernow’s biographies. I’ve read them all.
#TYMED= teaching young minds every day
Thanks Gabe. There is a brand new book out on Lincoln Boss Lincoln the partisan life of Abraham Lincoln
I’m finishing one up right now, Boutwell, Radical Republican….. It is about one of the most influential politicians you never heard of. He was a confident of Lincoln and Grant, was one of the offers of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments and one of the best Secretaries of Treasury the country has ever known
Thank you for the recommendation. I look forward to reading this one.
The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World
A.J. Baime
Excellent read about a critical period of US history.
Also (in category of Presidential adjacent books) is Blanche Wiesen Cook’s wonderful three part biography of Elinor Roosevelt.
Agree that “What It Takes” is one of the best non-fiction books of all time…for books about the Presidency, would have to add “All The President’s Men” !
Is Flag Day an official holiday? I did not see it on the list. If not, Presidents just decide to add any holidays that they want to add?
Yes, although not an official federal holiday (i.e. no one gets the day off), it was established by act of Congress in 1949 as the day to commemorate the adoption of the flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.
Thank you Gabe. I have read at least one biography of every President from Washington thru Ford, in order, and am currently reading “His Very Best” about Carter which you recommend. I also second your recommendation for “Destiny of the Republic”, although I wasn’t wild about the recent production of it on Netflix.
My favorite of the biographies I have read is Edmund Morris’s three volume biography on Theodore Roosevelt.
Gabe, thanks for these recommendations; I look forward to digging into a few of them this week since I have California to/from east coast flights this week. Tragically my niece (36) passed away last Tuesday and her services are later this week. Leukemia dxd late January and chemo started but then she had an unexpected brain bleed and with insufficient platelets despite infusions given, she passed away hours later.
I'm so incredibly sorry about your niece. I hope you and the rest of your family can eventually heal from such a terrible loss. :(
I am sorry for your loss. So young. Too young.
An American Melodrama: The Presidential Campaign of 1968 written by three British journalists—Lewis Chester, Godfrey Hodgson, and Bruce Page. My first election, campaigning for Clean Gene. I was so angry when I read that he preferred to stay in his hotel room reading poetry with Robert Lowell, instead of getting out on the hustings--probably put me off liberals for life.
Need 2 make sure to #Vote 2026 #midterms are very inportant