Liberalism and leadership : the irony of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. / Emile Lester.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lester, Emile, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr. (Arthur Meier), 1917-2007.

Schlesinger, Arthur M.

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.

Roosevelt, Franklin D.

Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963.

Kennedy, John F.

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

Presidents.

Irony--Political aspects.

History.

Irony.

United States.

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

Liberalism.

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

Political leadership.

Irony--Political aspects--United States--History.

Executive power--United States--History.

Executive power.

United States--Historiography.

Historiography.

Genre:

History.

Biographies.

Physical Description:

252 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, 2019.

Summary:

"A growing literature on the Presidency identifies the technical skills of Presidents by focusing on their political thought and moral values, often assuming a President's values and goals are the most crucial component of his moral thought and behavior. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.'s was an empiricist and historian whose work on the presidency shows that value commitments do not translate smoothly into policy achievements. Possessing the dispositions and skills to address setbacks and unexpected crises was as vital to Franklin Roosevelt's and John Kennedy's accomplishments as their liberal moral views. At the same time, Schlesinger implied several key skills Roosevelt and Kennedy demonstrated were moral virtues rather than mere techniques intended to enhance the President's power. Schlesinger's moral framework relies on insights about trends in American history to argue Roosevelt's and Kennedy's ironic virtues often helped them avoid dangerous illusions to which Americans have been prone to succumb. Appreciating the history-based regime analysis at the heart of Schlesinger's liberalism opens up a new avenue of presidential analysis and may offer a path forward. In an age where external, institutional checks on the Presidency continue to dwindle, internal checks on Presidential overreach become all the more necessary. Schlesinger may have acknowledged and often championed the expansion of the President's institutional powers, but he also urged liberal leaders to cultivate ironic virtues to prevent these powers' abuse. That his counsel was grounded in conservative insights as well as liberal values makes it accessible to leaders across the political spectrum"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Liberal irony and Burkean conservatism

Ironic virtues and the liberal president

Speaking loudly but carrying a small stick

The terror and the hope

Is ironic liberalism self-defeating?

Conclusion: Was Obama too ironic or not ironic enough?

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Lester, Emile. Liberalism and leadership.

ISBN:

9780472131518

0472131516

OCLC:

1099528055