George Washington : Foundation of Presidential Leadership and Character

There have been many serious abuses of presidential power in recent decades, including Watergate, the Iran-Contra scandal, and the Lewinsky affair, subsequently Americans have demonstrated renewed interest in discussing the relationship between character and political leadership. Through an investigation of the life and career of George Washington, often considered the exemplary moral president, the chapters offer a balanced scholarly contribution to this analysis. Fishman, Pederson, Rozell, and their contributors examine the legacy of Washingtons presidency. Leading political scientists and historians describe and evaluate the impact of Washington's leadership on the institution of the presidency and on those who have since occupied the Oval Office. In the contemporary era of almost endless speculation about the role of character in presidential leadership, an analysis of Washington's character and the model he established is especially germane. The chapters provide diverse interpretations of the value of understanding Washington's leadership and the character of the modern presidency. Some of the scholars conclude that Washington indeed laid the foundation for good character and strong leadership in the presidency. Others take a more critical approach and see Washington, like many of his successors, as a fallible human being who possessed both character strengths and weaknesses. The lasting value of this analysis for political scientists, historians, and other students of the American presidency is that it demonstrates the continued vibrant debate over Washington's authentic legacy to the office. Preface......Page 10 Part I: Evaluating Washington’s Leadership and Character......Page 12 1. The President as Moral Leader: George Washington in Contemporary Perspective Glenn A. Phelps......Page 14 2. The Command of Its Own Fortunes: Reconsidering Washington’s Farewell Address Matthew Spalding......Page 30 3. Washington as Cincinnatus: A Model of Leadership Jason S. Lantzer......Page 44 4. George Washington: Can Aristotle Recapture What His Countrymen Have Forgotten? Colleen J. Shogan......Page 64 5. Duty, Honor, Country: Parallels in the Leadership of George Washington and Dwight David Eisenhower Phillip G. Henderson......Page 82 6. The Foreign Policy of Republicanism: A Free Society in an Unfree World William B. Allen......Page 110 7. Washington’s Leadership: Prudence and the American Presidency Ethan Fishman......Page 136 8. America’s Presidential Triumvirate: Quantitative Measures of Character William D. Pederson and Frank J. Williams......Page 154 Part II: The Origins of Washington’s Leadership and Character......Page 174 9. The Young Washington: An Interpretive Essay Mostafa Rejai and Kay Phillips......Page 176 10. The Nature and Development of George Washington’s Statesmanship: 1753–1783 Kent A. Kirwan......Page 194 11. Washington and the Specter of Cromwell Jim Piecuch......Page 204 12. “A Compleat Gentleman”: Congress’s ‘‘Partiallity’’ for George Washington in 1775 William Guthrie Sayen......Page 220 13. George Washington, Popular Sovereignty, and the Legitimacy of Revolution Ricardo A. Herrera......Page 230 Selected Bibliography......Page 240 Index......Page 244 About the Contributors......Page 250