Hollywood's White House: the American Presidency in Film and History.

• Author: Kreyche, Gerald F.
• Position: Book Review

EDITED BY PETER C. ROLLINS AND JOHN E. O'CONNOR, THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY, 2008, 341 PAGES, $32.00

This well-written book, with contributions by both film critics and historians, is an interesting study of the real presidency and the reel presidency. It may be true that the man makes the office and the office makes the man, but one should not forget the impact of "the tube" as well as the silver screen upon viewers' perceptions of that august position. The latter certainly have been shaped by the popular TV show, "The West Wing." Rather than taking media presentations as gospel truth, we must remember that Hollywood's purpose in producing various films and programs about the presidency is threefold: to inform, criticize, and entertain. One should never forget the latter.

One of the most popular TV films, a WNET-PBS production, was the 1976 miniseries, "The Adams Chronicles." Indeed, it set the pace and tone for future series, such as Ken Burns' "The Civil War." The former was used for history courses in colleges throughout the nation. Its focus was on John Adams, the second president of the U.S., as seen in the perspective of a husband, father, politician, and diplomat. Added strengthes were the portrayal of Abigail, his wife and "friend," and the early call for women's rights.

Another PBS film was "The Crossing," the story of George Washington's surprise attack and victory over the Hessians in Trenton, N.J, in 1776. (Only recently have we learned that the enemy was tipped off to this military maneuver, but Ignored the...