Paul F. Boller (1916–2014)

5795. Presidential Inaugurations, by Paul F. Boller, Jr. (read 3 Jul 2022) This is a 2001 book which discusses in turn, the first inauguaration on Apr 30, 1789, picking the day for the inauguration (including what happens when the day falls on Sunday), getting to Washinton, the weather on the day, the eve before the day,

A series of short anecdotes on all the women who have been married to US Presidents. In some cases the anecdotes are short on the ground, especially for the wives who died before their husband were elected President (Boller points out that one wive isn't even mentioned in her husband's memoirs) but the later FLOTUS's are covered extensively.

Rufus King, James Buchanan's rumoured partner, does not get his own entry.

A great many stories from the first two centuries of Congressional government; some of them will be familiar to readers well-versed in government, but others are fresh, and the selection is excellent. Many of the lessons in the stories are still relevant; in re-reading this for this entry, I found an anecdote regarding Sam Rayburn being worried about early-morning letters composed in heat by Harry Truman. Still relevant in 2018! Very highly recommended.

Even though this book is 20 years old, it's still a good read with much in it to provide ammunition to counter a number of silly notions on American history.