The Buck Stops Here

This book vividly captures twenty-eight pivotal moments in American presidential history—from the Louisiana Purchase to JFK’s pledge to put a man on the moon.

It is often said that the United States presidency is the most powerful office in the world. Various presidents have wielded that power in different ways, changing the course of history with a single decision, speech, or signature. The Buck Stops Here examines twenty-eight of these iconic events, giving readers an insider’s view of how and why these decisions were made, and providing insight into the corridors of power within the White House.

Thomas J. Craughwell and Edwin Kiester Jr. delve into Jefferson’s acquisition of vast new territory with the Louisiana Purchase and Lincoln’s abolition of slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation. They shed light on the establishment of enduring institutions such as Medicare and America’s national parks. They also look at initiatives that reverberated worldwide, including Theodore Roosevelt’s construction of the Panama Canal, Harry S. Truman’s deployment of the atom bomb, Richard Nixon’s visit to China, and John F. Kennedy’s pledge to put a man on the moon.

Each chapter presents the issues at stake, and analyzes the enduring, sometimes unforeseen consequences of these presidential decisions—in their own time, and right up to the present day.