Sex with Presidents: The Ins and Outs of Love and Lust in the White House

In this latest work, Herman (Sex with Kings) embraces the salacious details of some of the more well-known sex scandals of specific presidents: Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as sprinkling in less well-known affairs and some long-forgotten ones (such as Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson). Herman adroitly exhibits her storytelling prowess in blending the documented gossip of the time with personal details from interviews and memoirs to write a book that is both historical and wildly entertaining. At times, the narrative seems to glory in the lascivious details of the often-lurid sex lives of the presidents, which may attract or repel depending on the reader; however, there is a fair balance of historical background to counterbalance it. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the work also notes a concerning trend in the frequency of affairs between presidents and interns, and the power dynamics between men and the women who report to them.