Understanding the Presidency

by Pfiffner, James P.; Davidson, Roger H.

• ISBN13: 9780205649877
• ISBN10: 0205649874
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

Updated with new readings on the war in Iraq, the war on terror, the frontloaded nomination process, and President Bushrs"s place in history, the new edition of this popular reader gives students the analytical tools needed to make sense of the modern presidency and its relationship with other key players in our political system. The selections in this reader were chosen with two aims in mind: (1) to provide a historical perspective, so often neglected in similar texts, that explains how the events of the past two centuries led us to where we are today, and (2) to present the most important current issues that are shaping the Bush administration and the presidency more broadly. This collection of readings offers students a combination of "classic" scholarly analyses, the best of current scholarship, and engaging insights into the nature of the contemporary presidency.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Constitutional Origins of the Presidency	p. 1
James Madison to Thomas Jefferson	p. 6
Federalist No. 69	p. 8
Federalist No. 70	p. 11
To the Citizens of the State of New York	p. 14
Reevaluating the Electoral College	p. 19
Historical Perspectives on the Presidency	p. 35
The Strict Constructionist Presidency	p. 42
The Stewardship Presidency	p. 44
The Public Presidency	p. 46
The Prerogative Presidency	p. 49
Toward a Modern Presidency	p. 51
The Presidency in the Political Order	p. 55
Selecting Presidents: Campaigns, Elections, and Mandates	p. 65
Nomination Politics, Party Unity, and Presidential Elections	p. 71
A High Speed Chase: Presidential Aspirants and the Nomination Process	p. 88
Campaigning for Cash Amid Chaos?	p. 111
The Presidential Election of 2000	p. 128
The Presidential "Hundred Days"	p. 136
The Myth of Presidential Mandate	p. 141
Presidential Campaigning and Presidential Governance: The Case of 2004	p. 151
The Public Presidency: Press, Media, and Public Approval	p. 167
The "Permanent Campaign"	p. 172
The Press and the Presidency	p. 179
The Presidency and Image Management: Discipline in Pursuit of Illusion	p. 190
The Presidential Pulpit: Bully or Baloney?	p. 202
Presidential Persuasion and Press Coverage of the War in Iraq	p. 211
The Institutional Presidency	p. 229
The White House Staff	p. 232
Can the President Manage the Government?	p. 234
The Changing Presidential Office	p. 251
Presidential Appointments and the Office of Presidential Personnel	p. 262
The Separation of Powers	p. 273
Presidential Relations with Congress	p. 276
The Disappearing Political Center	p. 294
Constraining Executive Power: George W. Bush and the Constitution	p. 299
Presidents and the Judicial Appointment Process	p. 321
Policy Leadership	p. 331
The Hundred Days	p. 334
The Power to Persuade	p. 341
Unilateral Powers: A Brief Overview	p. 347
Prerogative Power and the War on Terrorism	p. 362
Commander-in-Chief and National Security	p. 381
Invitation to Struggle: The President, Congress, and National Security	p. 384
Deference and Defiance: The Shifting Rhythms of Executive-Legislative Relations in Foreign Policy	p. 395
Iran-Contra: What Was Wrong	p. 412
The Foreign Affairs Power and the Framers' Intentions	p. 424
The Commander in Chief and the Courts	p. 431
Condoleezza Rice as NSC Advisor	p. 442
Evaluating Presidents: Greatness and Abuse of Power	p. 453
Three Crises of Character in the Modern Presidency	p. 456
"If Men Were Angels ....": Presidential Leadership and Accountability	p. 473
The Worst President in History?	p. 479
The Long View	p. 490
A New Imperial Presidency?	p. 494
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