Pulitzer Prize History Winner

The People's Choice

by Herbert Agar

Summary

Agar surveys the American presidency from Washington forward, judging each occupant against the demands of leadership and the popular will that put them in office. He writes pointed assessments of how presidents rose to or fell short of their moment, blending narrative with critical commentary. The book reads as a study of democratic leadership and the gap between the office's promise and its everyday practice.

Historical Context & Significance

Agar, a journalist and editor, received the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1934 for this account of the American presidency.