After The White House: Former Presidents As Private Citizens

""After the White House," is chock full of interesting anecdotes, useful facts, and groundbreaking analysis on the lives of former presidents. Skidmore is to be commended for producing a highly readable, entertaining, and important book on a topic that, surprisingly, has been largely overlooked by scholars of the U.S. presidency. This is a welcome addition to the literature on the presidency, and one that every student of the presidency will want to read. Indeed, in a rarity for works on the topic, the book is appropriate for the presidential scholar - both political scientists and historians - as well as the general reader."
--Robert P. Watson, Department of Political Science, Florida Atlantic University
"In 1787, Alexander Hamilton predicted that former presidents would wander about 'like discontented ghosts.' But as Max J. Skidmore shows us in his captivating narrative, former presidents have vigorously engaged in a wide variety of roles from advisor to philanthropist to memoirist to office-holder (including one who served in the Confederacy). "After the White House" is a masterful review of how men learn to cope with the loss of power by maintaining influence."--Philip Abbott, Wayne State University


What exactly has Bill Clinton been doing since he left office? What can he expect to accomplish? What have his predecssors in his position done? Many presidents have had enormous impacts on the course of history after their terms ended, but not until "After the White House" has their role been examined. Thirty-two completed their terms. Four became presidential candidates again (one was even elected), two served in Congress, one abandoned his country to accept election to the Confederate Congress, one became Chief Justice, and the most recent former president has the unique distinction of having his First Lady become a United States senator. Former presidents almost always remain influential, but their post-term activities have received little attention or scrutiny until now.