I have recently taken on a reading challenge. It all began when I read the previously mentioned account of Titanic passenger Major Archibald Butt about his everyday happenings as the military aide to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. In reading Butt’s accounts, it registered to me how little I know about the history of the United States and how much can be learned through the lives of the men who were entrusted to the executive spot.
I enjoy looking at posts in a Facebook group called Serious Non-Fiction Books. There are posts about a variety of subjects of nonfiction books, and I have found some great suggestions through this group. I noticed a few different people were posting various books about American presidents, and I felt myself drawn to them. Though I could recognize the names and had a general gist of who they are, I decided that I wanted to participate in this challenge and read more about the lives of former presidents.
I decided to go in chronological order because I feel that the knowledge of each president would contribute to the understanding of the story of the one after. Of course, I started with probably the most well known and first president, George Washington.
The Picks
I read the biography Washington, A Life by Ron Chernow as well as a book about the travels of George Washington, Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy by Nathaniel Philbrick.
Chernow did a fantastic job of telling the entire story of Washington’s life. When you look at pictures of George Washington, he presents as somewhat of a statuesque type figure. However, I learned that Washington dealt with a great deal of self doubt and ambivalence about his contributions to the liberation of America from the Crown and the beginnings of the federal government. Washington did what he felt he needed to do but always had some self doubt in the process.
I had no idea that Washington was not a good speaker and was even noted to be shaky in some of the most important speeches in the founding of the country. I also did not realize there was so much talk about Washington’s teeth. Apparently he had dentures which did not always fit right and would make it almost painful for him to smile or speak. The dentures were composed to different pieces of human and animal bone. Now, when I imagine Washington speak, I have a much different image. However, I think it all speaks to the fact that a person does not have to be perfect to make the right impact, they just have to be dedicated, as Washington absolutely was.

I also really enjoyed the book by Philbrick about Washington’s travels from 1789-1791. The book relates the importance of the relationships and trust he established across the country during the time he was on the road. In some of the reviews about the book, people complained that Philbrick talked too much about his own dog, who came along with him on his travels to the places that Washington visited. I found out that Mount Vernon is actually dog friendly in modern times, which I thought was a bit surprising. I personally thought Philbrick’s accounts about his dog were relatable, because I love to bring my dogs on vacation with me.
Taphophobia
In reading Chernow’s account of the death of Washington, I found it really interesting that Washington asked his friend Tobias Lear to ensure that he was not buried for two days due to his fear of being buried alive. Lear apparently was a great friend and was understanding of his concern.
The fear of being buried alive is called taphophobia. In the past I have learned about traditions related to this fear including the use of a device that allowed a person to ring a bell after being buried. In both life and death, Washington seemed to face things without much fear. Even as he passed away he was taking his pulse, seemingly objective in his observations of his own passing. It was good that he felt he could be honest with his friend about his fear and receive an empathetic response.
For my next post I will discuss two books about Washington’s Vice President, John Adams. Let me know if you have any presidential picks you would suggest!
Excited to see where the journey through presidential biographies takes you.