Description
Book SynopsisArgues that presidential fundraising is an underexamined tool of modern presidential leadership and should be viewed as an instrument of presidential power akin to signing statements, executive orders, public speeches, and veto threats.
Trade Review"Drawing upon a painstakingly collected data set of presidential fundraisers spanning nearly a half century, Brendan Doherty provides a comprehensive portrait of presidential fundraising in the modern era. This lucidly written and cogently argued book is the definitive scholarly account of the ‘Fundraiser-in Chief.’ An invaluable resource for researchers, teachers, and journalists, it is also a must-read for all Americans concerned with the role of money in contemporary US politics."—Richard J. Ellis, author of
"The president’s time is distinctly finite, but the demand for campaign cash is apparently infinite: Brendan Doherty’s important research digs into how presidents have managed that tension over the last forty-plus years. With new data—one might say rich data!—and keen insight, Doherty explores how presidents have both responded to institutional changes in the campaign finance regime and shaped them. This book provides by far the most comprehensive evaluation of the rise of presidents’ drive for donor dollars and whether the role of fundraiser-in-chief is not only time-consuming but potentially corrupting."—Andrew Rudalevige, Thomas Brackett Reed Professor and Chair of Government, Bowdoin College
"Presidential fundraising is one more aspect of the job that has developed an outsized importance. Today, an important measure of leadership is raising dollars. Brendan J. Doherty does a masterful job of tracing this development and its implications for present-day politics. A must-read!"—John Kenneth White, The Catholic University of America, coauthor of American Political Parties: Why They Formed, How They Function, and Where They're Headed
Table of Contents
- Preface
- 1. Fundraising as a Presidential Leadership Tool
- 2. Escalation and Complication
- 3. Nationalization
- 4. Priorities and Strategies
- 5. Fundraising behind Closed Doors
- 6. Controversies and Prospects
- Appendix: Tracking Presidential Fundraisers
- Notes
- Index
