Exploring the American Presidency Through 50 Historic Treasures

Kenney (exec. dir., McKinley Presidential Lib. and Museum; Interpreting Anniversaries and Milestones at Museums and Historic Sites) presents material-culture objects selected by historic-site staffers that epitomize aspects of U.S. presidents. Similar in format and approach to Harold Holzer’s The Civil War in 50 Objects and Richard Kurin’s The Smithsonian’s History of America in 101 Objects, this narrative details the provenance of many otherwise mundane articles. Among those chosen are many similar talismans—desks of John Adams, James Monroe, and Martin Van Buren—and the expected—Washington’s dentures, Lincoln’s chair from Ford’s Theater; FDR’s microphone; Truman’s “The Buck Stops Here” desk sign; Reagan’s piece of the Berlin Wall; Clinton’s saxophone; George W. Bush’s 9/11 bullhorn; a pen that Obama used to sign the Affordable Care Act; and Trump’s MAGA hat. Somewhat unusual artifacts receive the author’s helpful explanations—Jefferson’s friendship gift of a walking stick to Madison, a piano that Tyler’s wife gave him to mark his transition to the presidency, and a replica of the original Hungarian crown which Carter repatriated.