Before They Were President

Before he became president of the United States in 1869, Ulysses S. Grant led quite an exciting life. He grew up on a farm in Ohio, went to college at West Point, and joined the U.S. Army. He then fought in the Mexican-American War and later the American Civil War. In fact, by the end of the Civil War, he was the highest ranked general in the Union army. Besides significant information like this, readers of this thought-provoking book will also learn how the military man became involved in politics. Striking images and fact boxes supplement this noteworthy biography.

Donald Trump's path to the presidency is unlike any other in the nation's history. Before Trump's stunning rise to the presidency, he was a businessman and hotelier. After a million-dollar loan from his father, he got his own business off the ground and invested in casinos, hotels, and other real estate like golf courses. With unique biographical content and a timeline of his life, readers explore Trump's path through the business world, and see the business skills that made millions of Americans think a reality television star was fit to lead the United States of America.

Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, lived a full and intriguing life before he took the highest office. "The Great Communicator," as he'd later be called, honed his skills and persona as an announcer for the Chicago Cubs, a movie star, and Governor of California. Readers will be amazed at the many careers and interests of Reagan. They'll also learn about his family and his motivations for seeking the presidency. Absorbing photographs and fact boxes add to this inspiring biography.

The rugged image of Teddy Roosevelt might not appear to include the bustle of New York City, but there's much people don't know about the 26th president of the United States. Before Roosevelt founded the Bull Moose Party and ran for office, he was a weight lifter and practiced gymnastics. Readers explore the early life of this larger-than-life political figure, exploring his military career, hobbies, and writings in a book full of images and facts about one of America's most fascinating presidents.

Andrew Jackson took his fame from the War of 1812 and became the people's president. But before his inauguration lay a fascinating story waiting to be told, from Jackson's military career to his origins as an orphan from South Carolina. After losing much of his family during the American Revolution, Jackson followed his family into a military life and became famous for his efforts in New Orleans during the second war with the British. Through timelines and other exciting graphical elements, Jackson's life is brought into sharp focus for readers looking for a fuller picture of presidential history.

Readers might think they might have heard everything there is to know about the American Revolution, but each Founding Father has a unique story worth telling. Before John Adams became America's second president, for example, he often skipped school to hunt and fish. This book gives readers an inside look at life before the presidency which, of course, included creating the nation he became president of later. From his early days north of Boston to his time as a lawyer, readers explore the inner life of the man who took office after George Washington and solidified the presidency.

The story of Kennedy's presidency ends in tragedy, but his young life is full of amazing stories. From his strict upbringing in a house of nine children to meeting his future wife Jacqueline, Kennedy's life before he took office was as exciting as his presidency. Through engaging graphic elements and a thorough timeline, readers experience Kennedy's youth and rise to political power. From a house in Brookline, Massachusetts, to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kennedy's story is one of the great American legends that actually happened.

Before he was president Abraham Lincoln, he was a lawyer in a large hat. Following his rise to the presidency offers readers an inside look at how the signer of the Emancipation Proclamation came to run the nation. From Lincoln's birth in a one-room log cabin to his early days practicing law and working in politics, his life is full of triumphs and tragedy. The places he lived and the people he loved are all chronicled in this exciting work, filling in the blanks in the life story that often starts for many when he assumed the role as America's 16th president.

American presidents' administrations are thoroughly studied, analyzed, and chronicled. What about these politicians' lives before being elected to the country's highest office? Barack Obama's unique story and life experiences, both the triumphant and the challenging, will give young readers insight into his road to the White House. They'll follow him from his earliest days in Hawaii to his historic 2008 election, learning interesting tidbits along the way, such as the fact that he had a pet ape named Tata. Details about the events and lessons that shaped him into America's 44th president are shared. Photographs, maps, quotes, and "fun facts" supplement this biography and engage readers of all levels.

Born into a large Virginia family, future U.S. president Thomas Jefferson went to William and Mary College at age 16. When he turned 21, he received his inheritance and began building his estate Monticello. A governor of Virginia and later minister to France, Jefferson was also a talented architect and inventor. In this motivating volume, young historians will love learning about the early life of the multitalented founding father before he became president and will especially enjoy the appealing artwork and fascinating fact boxes.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's deep admiration for distant cousin Theodore Roosevelt guided him into politics. Roosevelt rose quickly in New York political circles. Then, he was stricken with paralysis from the waist down, but this didn't stop his ambitions. This thought-provoking pre-presidential biography, full of fascinating facts like these, describes the remarkable and vivacious man who would guide the nation through World War II. Noteworthy photographs and interesting fact boxes add to the accessible text's appeal.

Everyone knows George Washington was the first president of the young United States. Most also know that before he was president, Washington was the commander of the Continental army during the American Revolution. But Washington had a busy life long before the war. Readers of this lively biography will discover what life was like for the young Washington, from his childhood in rural Virginia through his surveying and military career to his early political life. Each spread contains accessible text and vivid images, plus captions and fact boxes that enhance the main text with additional information.