Celebrity in Chief: A History of the Presidents and the Culture of Stardom

For better or worse, as Walsh (chief White House correspondent, U.S News & World Report; Prisoners of the White House) describes in this breezy account, presidents must harness their celebrity star power if they are to be successful chief executives. Presidents have always had to respect and curry favor from the prominent media forms of their times, but with the explosion of too often uncritical social media, our nation's leaders have also had to become adept at circumventing more respected media sources to appeal directly to the public. Interestingly, the author includes anecdotes from his long career to show how Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and perhaps Barack Obama (the VERDICT is still out according to Walsh) have skillfully employed traditional and/or social media to promote effectively their policies. Those who have not used their celebrity potential—Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and both Bushes—encountered more challenges in sharing their visions with increasingly restive citizens. Walsh entertainingly explores how presidents use motion pictures, books, sports, and music to bolster their celebrity credentials.