The Presidents and the Poor

"A significant addition to an already large body of work on the War on Poverty. The Presidents and the Poor will also appeal to anyone interested in the potential eradication of poverty since, as McAndrews shows, the problem remains unsolved."—Journal of American History

"The Presidents and the Poor is an accessible chronicle of the permutations of presidential administrations’ efforts to end poverty since 1961. It captures the complicated nature of the issue and the partisan obstacles that have frustrated every president since Johnson."—H-Net Reviews

"This book excels in its comprehensive review of the details of anti-poverty policymaking in the White House. It is a valuable resource for scholars writing about poverty and/or presidential rhetoric, regardless of their discipline, because of its meticulous treatment of a wide array of policy negotiations."—Journal of Interdisciplinary History

"Highly recommended."—Choice

“Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty, and each subsequent president in his own way has tried to address the issue. McAndrews examines these efforts thoroughly and assesses their successes and failures. This book comprehensively explores one of America’s most persistent social policy concerns.”—David Zarefsky, author of President Johnson’s War on Poverty: Rhetoric and History

“Lawrence McAndrews provides a remarkable and timely synthesis of how presidents from Lyndon Johnson to Barack Obama confronted the problem of poverty in the United States. His sweeping study shows both the continuities and discontinuities across administrations and between parties and demonstrates presidents’ consistent inability to come to grips with the realities of the issue. The Presidents and the Poor provides valuable insight and understanding for scholars and students alike.”—Guian A. McKee, author of The Problem of Jobs: Liberalism, Race, and Deindustrialization in Philadelphia