The presidential leadership dilemma : between the Constitution and a political party / edited by Julia R. Azari, Lara M. Brown, Zim G. Nwokora.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Azari, Julia R., 1979-

Brown, Lara M.

Nwokora, Zim G., 1983-

Series:

SUNY series in American constitutionalism

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Presidents--United States--History--20th century.

Presidents.

Political leadership.

History.

United States.

Presidents--United States--History--21st century.

Political leadership--United States--History--20th century.

Political leadership--United States--History--21st century.

Physical Description:

xi, 247 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Albany : State University of New York Press, [2013]

Summary:

Throughout their time in office, American presidents are often forced to choose between leading the nation and leading their party. In an earlier time when the major parties were less polarized, this leadership dilemma, while challenging, was not nearly as vexing as it is today. American presidents now find themselves with little room to maneuver, compelled to serve the Constitution on the one hand and yet caught within bitter partisan disputes and large numbers of unaffiliated voters on the other. The contributors to this volume investigate how recent presidents have navigated these increasingly rocky political waters. Focusing on campaign strategy, presidential rhetoric, relations with Congress, domestic and foreign policy, The Presidential Leadership Dilemma presents a wide-ranging, detailed, and fascinating study of how contemporary presidents face the challenge at the heart of every presidency. Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction: a rock and a hard place: between a party and the people

Pathways to the nomination: an analytic framework

Presidential mandates and the leadership dilemma: William J. Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama

Playing for history: the reelection leadership choices of presidents

William J. Clinton and George W. Bush

Presidents, leverage, and significant public policy

The base realignment and closing commission: difficult choices, electoral considerations, and the future of national leadership in a partisan age

The paradoxes of presidential leadership in pursuing policy goals

Taking credit and avoiding blame: the politics of rhetorical signing statements under unified and divided government

President Obama and counterterrorism policy: when campaign promises meet governing imperatives

Conclusion: the right choice at the right time.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781438445991

1438445997

OCLC:

794272109