Kennett Square resident Walter Eckman, a presidential historian and author of the book Meet the Presidents, is a well of information on the nation’s most powerful men throughout history, writes Bill Rettew for the Daily Local News.

Eckman has turned his knowledge into lectures he gives on cruise ships and for various organizations, like the Daughters of the American Revolution. Sometimes, he plays a game of “Stump the Author” with the attendees.

“People love to talk about two things: the weather — which they can’t do anything about — and presidents,” said Eckman.

Of all the presidents, the first one is his favorite.

“Washington sacrificed more than all the other 44 presidents,” he said.

Washington spent eight years as commander of the military and eight years as president, even if he would have preferred to return to planting crops at Mount Vernon, said Eckman. He helped build the White House but never lived there. He preferred to stay in Philadelphia.

The author acquired most of his knowledge over the years from long visits to numerous presidential libraries. His favorite one is the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Santa Barbara, Calif.

“He loved America,” Eckman said about Reagan.

Read more Walter Eckman in the Daily Local News here.

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