Farmers, shopkeepers, businessmen, politicians--the fathers of the presidents of the United States have come from a wide variety of professions and all walks of life. In many cases, they provided their sons and future presidents with a political philosophy that they carried to the White House. In a few instances, the politics of the son differed significantly from that of his father.

This unique reference work provides biographies of both the biological and adoptive fathers of the 41 men who have served as president of the United States. Were the personalities of the father and son similar? What role did the father play in the son's upbringing? How did the father's view influence the son's? These questions and others are covered in each entry, in addition to the biographical sketches of the fathers of the presidents.