All the Presidents' Wits (Only Signed Copy)

Gerald Gardner

Published by Beech Tree Books/William Morrow, New York, 1986

About this Item

Stated First Edition (with Number Line to 1). Signed and inscribed by the author on the half-title page. The inscription reads 'For Jerry Gross-- The uncensored story of political seduction. As ever-- Gerry Gardner, 10/86.' I bought this book a good number of years ago and I recall picking up a handful of books that were signed to Jerry Gross. I was under the impression that he was an author. I remember he had some sort of curious background. I'm wondering now whether he was the renowned producer of exploitation films like I Drink Your Blood (1970), Teenage Mother (1967), The Seducers (1962) and I Eat Your Skin (1971). His company also released a film I remember seeing as a teenager, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. It might explain the 'uncensored' in the inscription. In any event, once listed this will be the Only signed copy of this book for sale on the Internet. You can see the covers in the photos. They are very clean. They have little to no wear. The edges and corners look very good. The gilt lettering on the spine is very bright. The book is square and very solidly bound from cover to cover with nicely tight pages throughout. The covers are also tightly and solidly bound. The inside covers and end papers are the same color, the blue color, of part of the covers. The pages are in excellent condition. There is a little bit of very light soiling on the middle page edge, but I'm not finding any soiling at all on the actual pages. They are very clean. I'm also not seeing any creasing. And there are no markings or attachments. And with the exception of the author's signed inscription, no one has written their name or anything else anywhere in the book. The dust jacket is in very good shape. It's very clean. The only wear I see is quite minor, a tiny tear off the top edge of the rear cover and a little nick off the top edge of the front cover. The flaps are in very good shape. The top edge of the front flap has a very tiny crease just adjacent to the middle edge. There is a vague thin line of toning at the top edges of the flaps. I don't see any soiling. The jacket is NOT price-clipped, not clipped at all. It will be fitted with a protective cover after the photos are scanned. From the dust jacket: All the Presidents' Wits examines a political development of growing importance: the strategy of seduction by laughter. Following the political careers of the last six presidents, Gerald Gardner explores the increasing influence of humor in the political arena and takes an entertaining but probing look at the strategic use of humor by our presidents. Richly anecdotal and wryly perceptive, All the Presidents' Wits introduces us to the people who supply our presidents with the gift of manipulative humor. It's a lively examination of the tangled relationship between the worlds of politics and show business-- and what it promises for the future of leadership in America.' The author was a speechwriter and 'resident humorist' for Robert Kennedy during his 1964 New York Senatorial campaign. He was also 'co-creator and chief writer of That Was the Week That Was, the landmark television show of political satire, and wrote for other notable television programs, including Get Smart, The Monkees, and the Smothers Brothers Show. Seller Inventory # 003253

Bibliographic Details

Title: All the Presidents' Wits (Only Signed Copy)

Publisher: Beech Tree Books/William Morrow, New York

Publication Date: 1986

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Near Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine

Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition