This book is a memoir of the author's personal encounters with the US presidents from Abraham Lincoln to William Howard Taft, spanning the crucial period of American history from the Civil War to the Progressive Era. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the personalities, policies, and events that shaped the nation, as seen through the eyes of a witness and participant. The author writes with wit, insight, and a deep sense of appreciation for the virtues and flaws of each president he met. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.