American presidents have always been famous, says Walsh, but it was only after the advent of the mass media and the vast increase in the power and reach of the presidency under Franklin D. Roosevelt that the leader of the US became a true superstar. His topics include forerunners of the modern celebrity presidents from Washington to Cleveland, John F. Kennedy: glitter and cool, Barack Obama: making history and taking new paths, second billing: from Truman to the Bushes, first ladies: partners in celebrity, presidents and the movies: cinema stars, presidents and sports: links to everyday America, and consequential versus shallow celebrity. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)