H. W. Brands

In the academic world, biographies of these great figures of the past fell out of favor in the 1960s, when there was…

— H. W. Brands

People are interested in people. They buy biographies; they don't buy studies of presidencies.

— H. W. Brands

The president is the one person who potentially could be the unifying figure in the country. And if the president or a…

— H. W. Brands

To me, the puzzle of Ronald Reagan is how a comparatively ordinary man, someone with not extraordinary talent, accomplished such extraordinary results.…

— H. W. Brands

I'm trying to tell the story of the evolution of America. Each biography is a life in time, and I can see…

— H. W. Brands

Abraham Lincoln spoke out against the Mexican War. But once Americans were under fire, people who were on the fence felt obliged…

— H. W. Brands

It's hard to get in the head of somebody. The closest we can get is through the words they've left behind, either…

— H. W. Brands

I cannot think of a president or administration that has taken seriously the 100 days.

— H. W. Brands

There has always been interest in certain phases and aspects of history - military history is a perennial bestseller, the Civil War,…

— H. W. Brands

I read in all forms: paper, computer, phone, audio.

— H. W. Brands

President Trump is doing what he can to act decisively. And if there's one thing most people have in mind in distinguishing…

— H. W. Brands

When the Constitution was written in 1787, there was this supposition that American politics would be above party. The people who would…

— H. W. Brands

Reagan's enduring value as a conservative icon stems from his resolute preaching of the conservative gospel, in words that still warm the…

— H. W. Brands

Reagan refused to demonize his foes. Instead he charmed them, with a few exceptions, including Tip O'Neill, the Democratic Speaker of the…

— H. W. Brands

When a president doesn't know the policy, it doesn't make for a very effective leader.

— H. W. Brands

Booker Washington was branded an accommodationist by many of the people who criticized him.

— H. W. Brands

Theodore Roosevelt, when he was out of office, he would do things to draw attention. But when you are president, you don't…

— H. W. Brands

In the early days of the republic, the secretary of state was the heir apparent to the president. Presidents could easily hand-pick…

— H. W. Brands

In some ways, I would be absolutely fascinated if Trump gets elected.

— H. W. Brands

I'm more inclined to say the presidency has changed Trump rather than Trump changed the presidency. He has moderated or reversed himself…

— H. W. Brands

When people think of the oil industry, they think of Rockefeller, much like when people think of the software industry, they think…

— H. W. Brands

I've been writing big stories of history, but there are a lot of fascinating little stories.

— H. W. Brands

Interest in the Founders has risen and fallen over time, as has admiration for them and their accomplishments.

— H. W. Brands

The candidate who promises the most has the best chance of winning.

— H. W. Brands

The Catalonian movement is quite serious; I don't think it's simply symbolic. I think that they believe that Catalonia can be more…

— H. W. Brands