American Presidents Panel

The panel discussion featured four historians, all of whom contributed biographies to the American Presidents Series, published by Times Books. Panelists talked about their writing experiences, as well as the presidents about whom they wrote. Ms. Appleby is the author of the Thomas Jefferson biography, Mr. Diggins wrote the John Adams biography, and Mr. Phillips is the author of the volume on William McKinley. Mr. Brinkley was working on a biography of Gerald Ford, and also served as the moderator for this panel. Following prepared remarks, the panelists responded to questions from the audience. The American Presidents Series, which is edited by presidential historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., offers books that encapsulate each chief executive’s life, career and presidency. The publisher planned to release biographies of forty-three presidents over the course of several years. close