Sex with Presidents: The Ins and Outs of Love and Lust in the White House

In this fascinating work of popular history, the New York Times bestselling author of Sex with Kings and The Royal Art of Poison uncovers the bedroom secrets of American presidents and explores the surprising ways voters have reacted to their leaders’ sex scandals.

While Americans have a reputation for being strait-laced, many of the nation’s leaders have been anything but puritanical. Alexander Hamilton had a steamy affair with a blackmailing prostitute. John F. Kennedy swam nude with female staff in the White House swimming pool. Is it possible the qualities needed to run for president—narcissism, a thirst for power, a desire for importance—go hand in hand with a tendency to sexual misdoing?

In this entertaining and eye-opening book, Eleanor Herman revisits some of the sex scandals that have rocked the nation's capital and shocked the public, while asking the provocative questions: does rampant adultery show a lack of character or the stamina needed to run the country? Or perhaps both? While Americans have judged their leaders' affairs harshly compared to other nations, did they mostly just hate being lied to? And do they now clearly care more about issues other than a politician’s sex life?

What is sex like with the most powerful man in the world? Is it better than with your average Joe? And when America finally elects a female president, will she, too, have sexual escapades in the Oval Office?

• Power as an Aphrodisiac: Explore the link between narcissism, a thirst for power, and sexual misdoing—from Alexander Hamilton’s steamy affair to JFK’s infamous White House pool parties.
• Founding Fathers to Modern Scandals: Journey through centuries of White House history, uncovering the bedroom secrets of presidents from Thomas Jefferson and Grover Cleveland to Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
• First Ladies and Mistresses: Discover how formidable first ladies like Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton navigated their husbands’ infidelities, and what was in it for the presidential girlfriends.
• American Puritanism vs. European Attitudes: Delve into the surprising ways American voters have reacted to their leaders’ scandals, from public outrage to a collective shrug, and how this compares to other nations.

"A racy, revealing look at illicit sex involving the country’s highest office." - Kirkus Reviews

“Addictively Good Dish” - Entertainment Weekly

“Sexy, Dishy and Funny” - New York Times

"Packed with colorful character sketches and bawdy puns...this ribald and richly detailed history entertains." - Publishers Weekly

“Well researched…although humorous at times, Sex with Presidents does not water down some of the real miscreants who lived in the White House.”  - BookPage

"Fascinatingly humorous and surprisingly illuminating . . .” - New York Journal of Books

"Herman adroitly exhibits her storytelling prowess in blending the documented gossip of the time with personal details from interviews and memoirs to write a book that is both historical and wildly entertaining." - Library Journal

"At a moment when presidential sex scandals have few immediate consequences, this book will remind readers of the moral and political complexity of the topic while providing an entertaining introduction." - Booklist