Books by Presidential Losers

With a presidential election there can be only one winner, butwhat happened to those who fought and lost? Some have eventually returned to win a futureelection, but what about those who never became president. Over the past 68 years there have been adozen men who ran for president and never won an election; all of them havewritten books. The topics of theirwriting vary from conventional memoirs to the photography and climate change.

In 2004 - John Kerry lost to George W. Bush

The New Soldier was written in 1971 by John Kerry and theVietnam Veterans Against the War. It contains excerpts of testimony about warcrimes committed during the war. Only5000 copies of the book were originally printed driving the value of the bookup to $1250 for a signed first edition.

In 2000 - Al Gore lost to George W. Bush, although Gore didwin the popular vote losing by the Electoral Collages

Gore as authored a number of books including Earth in theBalance which was written in 1992 and became the basis for his much acclaimedAn Inconvenient Truth which became a bestseller and was turned into an AcademyAward winning Documentary, prices for signed copies of the former top out at$595 while the Inconvenient Truth is offered for up to $449 when signed.

In 1996 - Bob Dole lost to Bill Clinton

After losing the 1996 election Bob Dole wrote a book abouthis run at the presidency in an effort to show that just because he lost theelection it didnt mean he lost his sense of humour. A signed copy of Great Political Wit isoffered for up to $436

In 1988 - Michael Dukakis lost to George H. W. Bush

Though not at all collectable Dukakis helped write How toGet Into Politics and Why in 2006, you can buy it for under $20

In 1984 - Walter Mondale lost to Ronald Regan

Mondales most collectable work would be his first book TheAccountability of Power: Toward a Responsible Presidency, written in 1976 as anessay against the excesses of the Nixon administration. You can pick up a signed copy for only $50.

In 1976 - Gerald Ford lost to Jimmy Carter

Gerald Ford is the wildcard in this list since he did serveas president; however he did so having never won an election. Rather then win his way in he was given the VicePresidency after Spiro Agnews resignation and then catapulted to the positionof President the following year after Nixon resigned during the Watergatescandal. He attempted a second term inoffice but was beaten by Jimmy Carter in 1976.Following these events Ford wrote his Autobiography A Time to Heal in1979, a title which remains his most collectable book, as well as the mostcollectable book written by a presidential candidate who never won anelection. A signed copy will cost you upto $2800.

In 1972 - George McGovern lost to Richard Nixon

McGovern has written a number of books: The Great Coalfield War which depicts thestruggle for unionisation among early Colorado Coal Miners , A biography titledGrassroots which was published in 1977, and in 1997 he wrote Terry; the storyof his daughters struggle with Alcoholism - All of which hover around the $150range.

In 1968 - Hubert Humphrey lost to Richard Nixon

Written in 1976, The Education of a Public Man documents Humphreyslong political career, the book has undergone re-printings and signed earlyeditions are offered for up to $100.

In 1964 - Barry Goldwater lost to Lyndon B. Johnson

Apart from being known as Mr. Conservative Goldwater wasalso highly interested in photography. Threebooks with his photography are People and Places, Delightful Journey and BarryGoldwater and the Southwest which contains a forward written by Ansel Adams, asigned copy of the latter can be found for up to $450.

In 1956 and 1952 - Adlai Stevenson lost two consecutiveelections to Dwight D. Eisenhower

Titled after part of his speech that won him the democraticnomination at the 1952 convention The Stark Reality of Responsibility is Adlaismost collectable work with only 1000 copies in its initial printing the book isoffered for up to $200.

In 1948 and 1944 - Thomas E. Dewey Lost consecutiveelections to Harry S. Truman and Franklin D. Roosevelt

After losing the Republican nomination in 1940 on anisolationist policy Dewey put up a good fight against the incredibly popularRoosevelt only to lose again the following election to Harry Truman byfrittering away a mammoth lead in the polls with quotes like his famous Youknow that your future is still ahead of you. Dewey was so favoured to win theChicago Tribune even hedged their bets declaring him the winner in theirheadline only to have to change it after 150,000 papers had been shippedout. Deweys most collectable book is asigned copy of Journey to the Far Pacific which contains writings about histrip though east Asia visiting revolutionary and war ravaged countries ofKorea, Indo-China, Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia which is offered for upto $468.

In 1940 - Wendell Willkie lost to Franklin D. Roosevelt

Willkie ran against FDR despite having never held a priorelected political office, he lost the Electoral Colleges by a landslide buthis book One World became a New York Times bestseller, not only did it predict Chinaseventual rise to the status of superpower but also touted the importance ofinternational peacekeeping after the second world war. Signed copies of the first edition areoffered for up to $389.