The Progression of the American Presidency : Individuals, Empire, and Change

This book, written in a more conversational style, puts in a single volume most of what any faculty member would need to teach an upper level undergraduate course on the presidency. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 3-12 The Historical Context: How We View the Presidency....Pages 13-21 Front Matter....Pages 23-23 Introduction: The Process in General....Pages 25-32 The System Changes Forever....Pages 33-44 Campaign Finance....Pages 45-51 The National Nominating Conventions: Are They Worth It and What’s Next?....Pages 53-65 The General Election: So You’ve Got the Nomination, Now What?....Pages 67-80 Front Matter....Pages 81-81 You’ve Been Elected, Why Is This Guy Asking How You Feel All the Time? The Vice President and Succession....Pages 83-90 Presidential Character: Everybody Has One....Pages 91-104 The Presidential Advisory System: For Good or Ill, There Really Is One....Pages 105-113 Front Matter....Pages 115-115 The President and the Bureaucracy....Pages 117-123 Presidential Decision Making....Pages 125-136 Front Matter....Pages 137-137 The President and the Media....Pages 139-146 Presidential Popularity: How Do I Approve of Thee? Let Gallup Count the Ways....Pages 147-152 The President and Congress....Pages 153-166 The President and the Judiciary....Pages 167-179 The President and Policymaking: Domestic, Economic, and Foreign....Pages 181-198 Front Matter....Pages 199-199 Hope and Change and the Future of the Presidency....Pages 201-210 Back Matter....Pages 211-255 The contemporary presidency, and the nation it governs, is more dependent on the individual in office than ever before. The Progression of the American Presidency examines in detail the institution of the American presidency, from the selection process, to the president's individual responsibilities, to his interactions with other actors in the political arena. Twombly argues that regardless of how well suited a particular individual may be for a specific time in office, he or she will leave an indelible imprint on the office for those who follow. Each successful president changed the institution in which he served by expanding its scope and power and raising the bar of public (and historical) expectations. Both scholarly and conversational, The Progression of the American Presidency is essential reading for anyone interested in the evolving state of the Oval Office. Book jacket