Lori Cox Han

Diane J. Heith

There is perhaps no political position as unique as the American presidency. This book considers both the strengths and weaknesses of the presidency as a political institution as well as the those of recent presidents and their leadership skills to examine the "real" presidency; that is, not just the theoretical analysis of the institution or assessments of the men who have served as president, but the actual day-to-day responsibilities and challenges that go with the job. To showcase the"real" aspects of the presidency, as well as the differences between individual and institutional perspectives on decision making, the authors incorporate archival documents from multiple administrations to reveal the inner workings of the White House. The documents and oral histories at presidential libraries and other archives represent a virtual treasure trove of detailed analysis and stories of what actually happened, not only publicly but behind the scenes, in each presidential administration. These documents allow a president and/or members of his administration, through their own words, to animate the discussions in each chapter from the perspective of political actors who were actually present to understand and appreciate the depth and breadth of presidential power and leadership in the 21st century.

Presidents and the American Presidency

Explores how recent presidents have managed communications with the American public.

Presidents and the Challenges of Public Leadership

In the Public Domain

"Presidents and the American Presidency engages students in the study of the presidency through an exploration of both the political institution and the men who have held the office. Considering both the strengths and the weaknesses of the office, authors Lori Cox Han and Diane J. Heith move beyond purely theoretical analysis to examine the real-life, day-to-day responsibilities and challenges that go with the job. Memos, oral histories, detail analyses, etc. pulled from Presidential Libraries will bring to life the study of the Presidency. Contemporary Presidencies will be emphasized to allow the students to see the concepts presented in the text at work in an administration with which they are familiar. The text will cover all of the standard concepts presented in the course, and will do so by integrating the latest qualitative and quantitative research in the field"--

Diane J. Heith

Books

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