Presidents are fair game for Watterson

By Barbara Rich Daily Progress correspondent
Published: October 12, 2008

At a time when presidential election fervor is at fever pitch, the title of John Sayle Watterson’s book, “The Games Presidents Play,” hints at some, um, salacious doings.

The subtitle, “Sports and the Presidency,” however, puts it all into perspective, although many personal and political aspects of the men who could put their feet up in the Oval Office are not neglected in this fascinating, insightful book.

The author, who lives in Charlottesville, and is an adjunct assistant professor of history at James Madison University, set out to cover the athletic prowess — or lack thereof — of presidents 26 through 43, Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Bush.

But the book’s jacket promises, and delivers, more.

“Watterson explores not only their health, physical attributes, personalities and sports IQs, but also the increasing trend of Americans … to equate sporting achievements with courage, manliness and political competence.”

The things any of us, presidents included, choose to do for fun and relaxation is important, and we get a sense of how personalities and sports choices both surprise and confirm our images of those holding the highest office in the land. To set the stage, Watterson gives the reader a timely backdrop in the first two sentences of the book’s preface:

“In the winter of 2001, when I began research on this book, Bill Clinton had just left the presidency and George W. Bush had recently taken the oath of office. For a historian of contemporary sports, I could not ignore the parallels of the old and new presidents.”

After informing us that George Washington may have been the most talented athlete of all our presidents, Watterson kicks off his in-depth scrutiny with “The Man Who Changed Everything” — Theodore Roosevelt. A man, who, in spite of bouts with asthma, was the very picture of athleticism. Roosevelt was a biker, mountain climber and an avid hunter. That would seem to be at odds with his creation of 51 wildlife preserves, and the author’s description of him as “a tree hugger.”

Watterson titles the chapter on William Howard Taft “A Large Legacy,” and it’s an appropriate one for a man who weighed more than 300 pounds. Taft’s sport of choice was golf, and he also was an ardent supporter of baseball.

Woodrow Wilson — an intellectual who made it into the White House — was, as a golfer, a “duffer.” He played the game for prophylactic reasons to ward off, by outdoor exercise, his susceptibility to strokes. There’s a great photo — the book overflows with wonderful pictures of its subjects — of Wilson bending over a golf ball as though entreating it not to disgrace him.

Both Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman married women who excelled in sports more than they did. In fact, the latter’s exercise amounted to little more than taking walks.

Franklin D. Roosevelt had to hide the cruel results of having been stricken with polio at the age of 39. His physical activities were restricted, but he enjoyed sailing, fishing and the waters at Warm Springs, Ga., which were also therapeutic. John Kennedy, too, had to conceal his chronic back pain, but managed to engage in the Kennedy passion for touch football, as well as sailing. The author tells us that Kennedy was a better golfer than Dwight D. Eisenhower, who relished every moment on the links.

Lyndon Johnson most enjoyed political games, while Richard Nixon — who played golf and bowled — could be classified as “athletically challenged.”

So many presidents, so little space …

Watterson calls Gerald Ford “The Pigskin President,” while Jimmy Carter was an undercover “sports maven.” As for Ronald Reagan, there’s a photo of him as a young hunk of a lifeguard, and who could forget how tall he sat in the saddle on his beloved ranch?

Ah, Bill Clinton — jogging and golf. In his enjoyment of the latter, he “bent the rules,” much as he did in a few other areas … We end up with the current president, who enjoys running and, having bought the Texas Rangers years ago, still retains a love for baseball.

“The Games Presidents Play” is a book that keeps on giving. The conclusion chapter goes into material not covered in the main text, while the appendix lists number, name, nickname and “known for” of all the presidents covered, along with added tidbits on each, including their rankings. There are copious notes, and a chapter on suggested reading.

In a brief telephone exchange with Watterson, he told me that the paperback edition of the book will be out in the spring and will be $10 less than the hardcover. The good news is that any reader interested in sports, politics and presidents will find this comprehensive and readable book a fine addition to her or his library.