Description
Book SynopsisThis book offers an accessible and compelling guide to the American presidency by exploring a series of key questions. Michael A. Genovese, a leading scholar of the presidency, provides a clear overview of the core arguments and debates over the essential characteristics of this contradictory institution.
Trade ReviewMichael A. Genovese's
The Modern Presidency is a brilliant, and at times quirky, deep dive into what makes the executive branch so frustratingly great. Every page is an illumination. Great thinking by an amazing historian. Highly recommended! -- Douglas Brinkley, author of
Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of AmericaThese six foundational debates are essential reading for understanding the challenges of presidential leadership in the twenty-first century. Concise and engaging, this book is ideal for classroom instruction as well as for guiding new scholarship on the chief executive. -- Meena Bose, coauthor of
American Government: Institutions and PoliciesGenovese masterfully distills the six scholarly debates that animate the presidency field, as he investigates what a president must do to be a successful leader. Well-organized and thought-provoking, Genovese’s elegantly parsimonious prose makes this book the perfect introduction to the presidency. -- Lara M. Brown, author of
Amateur Hour: Presidential Character and the Question of LeadershipIn this short volume, Michael A. Genovese excavates the core controversies and tensions that define our nation’s most important—and most vexing—political office.
The Modern Presidency is at once a helpful guide for classroom discussion, a fine distillation of the views of one of the most thoughtful presidency scholars, and a joy to read. -- William G. Howell, coauthor of
Presidents, Populism, and the Crisis of DemocracyTable of ContentsIntroduction
1. What Is More Important, Power or Persuasion?
2. What Matters More, the Individual or the Institution?
3. Did the Framers Invent a Powerful Unitary Executive or a Limited Constitutional Office?
4. Which Is More Valuable, Character or Competence?
5. What Is More Important, Skill or Opportunity?
6. Will the Future of the U.S. Presidency Be One of Liberal Democracy or Illiberal Democracy?
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index
