Swing the club, the experts, scammers, and fools among the US Presidents

Author: Xiao Tang · Vanatta
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-08-01
Features: On the golf course, are you the President, Mr. President? The ball doesn’t know! A president who shines on the golf course will also excel in the political arena; a clumsy and dull president on the golf course will also be lackluster in the changing tides of politics. The author has had close encounters with many presidents and vividly narrates their talents, wit, and various rule-breaking behaviors on the course in the book, making it laugh-out-loud entertaining! The subject is excellent, the perspective unique, illustrated throughout, and the language witty. Some scholars who specialize in studying presidents and their tenure believe that to understand the masters of the White House to the greatest extent, one must deeply analyze their mindset. Others disagree, emphasizing that political talent, family background, or religious influence are the most crucial factors. However, the author of this book, Xiao Tang · Vanatta, takes a different approach, proposing a different standard—by observing their performance on the golf course. Of the 17 U.S. presidents from George W. Bush to date, 14 are golfers. The author has been pondering two questions: Why is golf so appealing to presidents? What personality traits can this sport reveal about them? For example, the book vividly depicts the rule-breaking behaviors of four presidents—Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, and Warren Harding—on the course, which is truly amusing and commendable! The author doesn’t rely solely on historical records but also through personal experiences of playing golf with Clinton and detailed interviews with former presidential golfers, brings to life the diverse and vivid images of presidents as masters, tricksters, and duffers on the course, allowing readers to clearly understand what golf truly means to these U.S. presidents.