The American Presidency is a confused and confusing institution. At the vital center of American politics, this office seems all but impenetrable to the lay person. Thomas E. Cronin and Michael A. Genovese, two award winning teachers and accomplished scholars, have made sense of this complex institution by suggesting that it is best understood through a series of paradoxes. By looking at the clashing expectations and competing demands placed upon the president we can begin to understand the dilemma faced by all incumbents; ...
Read More
The American Presidency is a confused and confusing institution. At the vital center of American politics, this office seems all but impenetrable to the lay person. Thomas E. Cronin and Michael A. Genovese, two award winning teachers and accomplished scholars, have made sense of this complex institution by suggesting that it is best understood through a series of paradoxes. By looking at the clashing expectations and competing demands placed upon the president we can begin to understand the dilemma faced by all incumbents; how to bring leadership in a separated system where expectations far exceed the resources and power available to the incumbent. Cronin and Genovese take the reader through the various relationships all presidents must develop if they are to lead successfully; relations between the president and Congress, the public and the courts; the managerial side of the executive branch, the new role of the Cabinet, Vice President and President's spouse; the vagaries of the selection process, and the inherent contradictions of leadership in a democratic system. Written in a lively, engaging style, this work represents the collaboration of two of the nation's most outstanding teachers and highly respected presidential scholars. This book sets a new standard for presidency scholarship.
Read Less
