1920

The Year of Six Presidents

By: David Pietrusza

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 20 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

The presidential election of 1920 was among history's most dramatic. Six once-and-future presidents--Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, and Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt--jockeyed for the White House. With voters choosing between Wilson's League of Nations and Harding's front-porch isolationism, the 1920 election shaped modern America. Women won the vote. Republicans outspent Democrats by 4 to 1, as voters witnessed the first extensive newsreel coverage, modern campaign advertising, and results broadcast on radio. America had become an urban nation: Automobiles, mass production, chain stores, and easy credit transformed the economy. 1920 paints a vivid portrait of America, beset by the Red Scare, jailed dissidents, Prohibition, smoke-filled rooms, bomb-throwing terrorists, and the Klan, gingerly crossing modernity's threshold.

©2008 David Pietrusza (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Paul Boehmer involves himself and listeners by employing subtle emotions. One can hear appropriate inflections—sadness, joy, and petulance—in his words. His sentences flow into a comfortable narrative that sometimes includes poetry. Not resorting to any vocal characterization, he distinguishes the quotations with short pauses." (AudioFile)

6 President's alive at the beginning of 1920!

What did you love best about 1920?

Each chapter was an individual history lesson. Women's rights, each individual President gets at least one chapter, KKK and racism, Harding being accused of being black, his girlfriends, and his presidency and death. Eugene Debs is given a chapter as is Sacco and Venzetti.
History really came alive for me.

What was one of the most memorable moments of 1920?

Each of the President's portrayed here became human beings, warts and all. If anything, I learned that Presidents are some of the most flawed men that have ever existed. Winning is everything.

Have you listened to any of Paul Boehmer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't remember ever listening to any of his other performances. I enjoyed this book and his reading of it immensely.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The women's rights movement was harrowing. The women who fought for our rights were more than heroes, they were warriors. The moment that particularly moved me was the vote by the Tennessee congressman for the amendment, changing his vote because his mother wrote him a letter asking him too.

Any additional comments?

This is a complete and comprehensive narrative of the year 1920 election. It encompasses other years to explain what lead up to this election and the results after the election. I did not find any biases towards any of the presidents. They all were treated fairly. An eye-opening book.

Good and interesting

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend the book, but some details were a little tedious.

What did you like best about this story?

It showed out the the different presidents' lives crossed and affected each other and the true character of each.

What does Paul Boehmer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I felt I was listening to a person that was there when the events occurred.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

How the US was molded by the different characters that ultimately became its presidents.

interesting details about time I knew little about

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a very well researched and well put-together history of the 1920 election -- although really the book gives more history that than to set the context before and after the election. Anyone interested in American presidential history should listen to it. So many of these important figures have been lost to time that it is good to hear their contributions described. One event that really had resonance to me in the current environment was the claim that Harding had "black blood" as a disqualification. I couldn't help thinking that this was the 1920 equivalent to the birther movement today. I seemed very similar to me. Worth the listen

Oh and one other thing. The narrator really grated on my nerves for the first couple of chapters. If you have the same impression hang in there -- I don't know if he got better or I just adjusted but after a while he falls into a nice rhythm.

This is a good look how pres used to be nominated

Would you listen to 1920 again? Why?

I would, there are so many people at work in the politics that I need to listen again to make sure I know what is going on.

What was one of the most memorable moments of 1920?

The party nomination process. The people with the electoral votes matter more than what other voters actually want.

Which character – as performed by Paul Boehmer – was your favorite?

It is FDR. it is interesting how how he handled everything needed at the time.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

i didn't have an extreme reaction to this book. It was a lot of history.

A mixed bag

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would have liked a tighter focus. It seemed the author reached in some areas to provide background and side stories that detracted from the main theme. Also the reading off of the vote tally in round after round of convention polling was tedious. It may have been less so in the printed book.

Would you be willing to try another book from David Pietrusza? Why or why not?

Not sure.

Which scene was your favorite?

The first portion of the book, part 1 of the recording, was the strongest. It weakened after that.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

I learned quite a bit about Harding, Wilson and Coolidge, presidents I had little knowledge about. Also I enjoyed reading about that time in U.S. history. I either never learned over forgot about some of the issues, such as the violence and bombings.

What a great Book!

Would you listen to 1920 again? Why?

I would definitely listen again. There are a lot of details here. That may scare some people off, but I thought it made the story that much richer. I loved the snarly quotes that the folks made about each other. Politicians haven't really changed much. The background material about each man was great--stuff I never knew about how they related to each other before they came to prominence.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I guess my favorite guy of the six was Calvin Coolidge. He was unflappable, and had nothing to hide. He knew what he wanted to do and did it. And he had great quips too!

Have you listened to any of Paul Boehmer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to Paul Boehmer before, but I enjoyed his narration. I have another book upcoming that he narrates.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It wasn't a particularly moving book, I don't think it was intended so. It was fast paced and full of fascinating people, most of whom were slightly shady, each with an angle and a goal--personal gain. If there was one moment that did make its mark on me was Coolidge's description of how difficult it was for him to meet new people. He described how he always found himself "back at that big kitchen door" not really wanting to push it open to meet new people. I could relate to this. I admire him for accomplishing all he did.

Any additional comments?

I very much enjoyed this book. I have also read 1960 by the same author. Also a fine story with similar style and fascinating tidbits!

Good history, but slanted.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

This was an amazing story that survives even though Pietrusza's disdain for anything Democratic colors the whole book.

Any additional comments?

He quotes the often repeated line that Woodrow Wilson knew how to hate, well, it is appropriate.

Doesn't get better!

Wow! Amazing ....:start to finish what an amazing book. So very good and the Perfect picture of the 1920 election

Politicians are crazy

This was a great review of the famous personalities involved the presidencies before and after 1920. The reader was annoying but I found if I listened at a higher speed it was tolerable. Beware of multiple uses of the N word in direct quotes from contemporaries if that sort of thing bothers you—it bothered me but I understand history needs to be shown warts and all. There are plenty of warts here, but they are all interesting.

Not made for audiobook use.

Declarative sentence after declarative sentence. Tables of numbers down to the last vote. Just not things to make for a good listening.

The narrator had a hard job with the material he’s given, but even so it could’ve been much better.

If you’re interested in this book, get a hard copy and read it.