John Robert Greene

John Robert Greene is a Professor Emeritus of History and Humanities at Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY, where he taught for forty-two years. A widely-published and well-reviewed author, Greene's writing specialty lies in American Political History, particularly the American presidency. He has written or edited twenty-one books.

His most recent book is Little Helpers: Harry Vaughan, His Cronies, and Corruption in the Truman Administration (November 2024). Of his book, which utilizes previously unpublished archival sources, presidential historian Richard Norton Smith writes: “It takes nothing away from Harry Truman’s Cold War statesmanship to be reminded of his sometimes misplaced sense of loyalty to the likes of Harry Vaughan, World War I comrade, lifelong friend, and sometime presidential advisor. Vaughan was also a Washington influence peddler, a congenial sort who would have been at home in Warren Harding’s White House. Drawing on primary sources and his own vast knowledge of the era, John Robert Greene dives deeply into the Vaughan story. The result is that rarity—a work of original scholarship that is also a page turner. Highly relevant for its foreshadowing of today’s pay for play politics, this is a major contribution to our understanding of the Truman presidency.”

Greene's other books include two on the election of Dwight Eisenhower, two on the presidency of Richard Nixon, three on the Gerald R. Ford presidency, a biography of Betty Ford, three on the presidency of George H.W. Bush, and two on the presidency of George W. Bush. He has also written four books on the history of higher education.

Greene has been honored by both his students and his colleagues. In 1993 the faculty of Cazenovia College voted him the honor of Distinguished Faculty Member; in 2000 he was awarded the school's first endowed chair; in 2020 he was awarded the college's Distinguished Service Award; and in 2023 he was asked to deliver the final commencement address in the history of the college.

Greene has been heard on several radio call-in shows around the country, has been published in many national newspapers and magazines, and has offered commentary on such outlets as on C-SPAN, MSNBC, PBS, and National Public Radio.

Born and raised in Syracuse, N.Y., Greene received his undergraduate degrees from St. Bonaventure University, and his Ph.D. in Modern American History from Syracuse University. In other lives, he was a radio disc jockey and played in a very bad small rock band.