The Gist

BEST OF THE GIST - Presidents Day

Feb 19, 2024

Founding CEO of C-SPAN and Co-CEO discuss ranking US Presidents, reassessing historical figures, and media strategy. Authors of a book on Ulysses S. Grant highlight physical appearance influence on public perception of presidents with a humorous touch, comparing past and present leaders.

33:44

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Quick takeaways

Presidents are ranked by looks, physique, and charisma in 'The Hottest Heads of State'.

Historians reassess presidents like Grant based on evolving societal values and contemporary perspectives.

Deep dives

Ranking Presidents based on Looks, Physique, and Charisma

The authors of 'The Hottest Heads of State' rank presidents based on their looks, physique, and charisma. They rate Ulysses S. Grant highly in looks and give him a question mark for physique, while rating him lower in charisma.

Introduction

5min

Ranking US Presidents and Reassessment of Historical Figures

3min

Evolution of Presidential Perspectives

11min

Media Strategy and Presidential Rankings

8min

The Physical Appearance of US Presidents

5min

Comparing Past and Present Leaders with a Hint of Future Museums

3min

We are off on this Holiday, but we wanted to share two interviews from the archive. One is from 2019 with founding CEO of C-SPAN Brian Lamb and Co-CEO Susan Swain are here to discuss their new book The Presidents: Noted Historians Rank America’s Best—and Worst—Chief Executives. Also from 2018 is Kate and J.D. Dobson are out with a book that considers Ulysses S. Grant’s quiet charisma, Franklin Pierce’s youthful charm, and the distinguished eyebrows of a certain Warren G. Harding. The Dobsons are the authors of Hottest Heads of State, Volume 1: The American Presidents.

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