Description
Book SynopsisWhen Barack Obama became president, many Americans embraced him as a transformational leader who would fundamentally change the politics and policy of the country. Yet, two years into his administration, the public resisted his calls for support and Congress was deadlocked over many of his major policy proposals. How could this capable new presiden
Trade Review"[A] clear, well-documented study of the limits on presidential power and influence."--Publishers Weekly "A valuable addition to the understanding of US polity."--R. Balashankar, Organiser "In Overreach, Edwards applies 'lessons learned' from his previous work on presidential leadership to the Obama presidency. Edwards argues that presidents do not create political opportunities, but must identify political openings and capitalize on existing political opportunities... A readable book that will find a home in undergraduate courses on the U.S. presidency."--Choice "Overreach is a clear and instructive essay, which, with an impressive amount of data (polls, television audience statistics, Congressional voting, and so on), confirms the arguments Edwards has been making since 2003."--Aurelie Godet, Books and Ideas.net "For more than two decades George C. Edwards has been carefully laying out a clear and consistently articulated argument about the nature of American politics... Edwards's body of work is interesting in that each book builds upon the others. His newest book, Overreach: Leadership in the Obama Presidency, links his prior insights together and extends them into an analysis and critique of one incumbent president, Barack Obama."--Richard W. Waterman, American Review of Politics "This book can stand on its own as a worthy case study of what to do and to avoid as America's most well-known and influential policy maker. I recommend this book for those who want to understand the contemporary Presidency and its relationship with Congress as it really is."--Gino J. Tozzi, Jr., Political Studies Review
Table of ContentsPreface ix Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Assessing Opportunities: Public Support 9 Chapter 2: Creating Opportunities? Going Public 36 Chapter 3: Evaluating Strategic Choices: Leading the Public 80 Chapter 4: Assessing Opportunities: Congressional Support 116 Chapter 5: Creating Opportunities? Leading Congress 135 Chapter 6: Evaluating Strategic Choices: Passing Legislation 157 Chapter 7: Persuasion and Opportunity in Presidential Leadership 179 Notes 189 Index 225
