by Gail Collins
First published 2012
William Henry Harrison holds the record for America's briefest presidency at just thirty-one days in 1841. Gail Collins examines how this seemingly forgotten figure revolutionized presidential campaigning despite his tragically short tenure. The son of a Declaration of Independence signer, Harrison built his reputation as a military hero at Tippecanoe and during the War of 1812 before joining the Whig Party leadership with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Collins focuses on Harrison's 1840 presidential race, which introduced mass rallies, candidate appearances, and memorable slogans like "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too" to American politics. His "Log Cabin and Hard Cider" campaign created the template for modern political theater. Though Harrison's presidency lasted only weeks, Collins demonstrates how his campaign innovations fundamentally altered the pursuit of America's highest office and continue shaping elections today.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction
Setting: America, Tippecanoe
Period: 1841
176 pages · Kindle Edition · Times Books