The Paradoxes of the American Presidency

by Cronin, Thomas E.; Genovese, Michael A.

• ISBN13: 9780195167092
• ISBN10: 0195167090
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-18
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

What exactly do Americans want from their president? A strong and innovative leader or someone who primarily listens to the will of the people? A programmatic party leader or a pragmatic bipartisan coalition-builder? A president who exercises power forcefully or someone who establishesconsensus before doing anything? The Paradoxes of the American Presidency, 2/e, suggests that Americans want the president to be both a leader and a follower, partisan and bipartisan, and innovative and conservative. In the second edition of this acclaimed book, Cronin and Genovese explore the complex institution of the American presidency by presenting a series of paradoxes that shape and define the office. They examine the clashing expectations and demands placed upon presidents, offering students theopportunity to understand the dilemma faced by all incumbents--how to bring leadership into a system where expectations exceed the resources and power available to them. The authors focus on the various relationships all presidents must develop if they are to lead successfully--relations between thepresident and: Congress, the public, the courts, the cabinet, and the Vice President. This book also treats the managerial side of the executive branch, the vagaries of the selection process, and the inherent contradictions of leadership in a democratic system. Thoroughly revised and updated, TheParadoxes of the American Presidency, 2/e, covers the Clinton impeachment, the 2000 election, the first three years of the Bush presidency, the events and aftermath of September 11, and the war with Iraq. Written in a lively, engaging style, this comprehensive, interpretive work represents thecollaboration of two prize-winning presidential scholars.

Author Biography

Michael A. Genovese is Professor of Political Science, the Loyola Chair of Leadership Studies, and the Director of the Institute for Leadership Studies at Loyola Marymount University.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Presidential Paradoxes	1	(26)
Electing Presidents	27	(34)
Rating and Understanding Presidents	61	(41)
Presidential Power and Leadership	102	(24)
Presidents in a Separated System	126	(35)
Presidents and Congress	161	(31)
Presidents and Political Parties	192	(17)
Presidents and the Court	209	(42)
Presidents as Chief Executives	251	(37)
The American Vice Presidency	288	(34)
Presidential Leadership and Constitutional Democracy	322	(25)
Notes	347	(34)
Selected Bibliography	381	(9)
Timeline of Presidential Elections and Tenure	390	(2)
Presidential Election Results, 1789--2000	392	(5)
Index	397