The Clinton Presidency: First Appraisals (American Politics Series) [Paperback]

Colin Campbell (Author, Editor), Bert A. Rockman (Editor)

Book Description

Series: American Politics Series | Publication Date: September 1995

This work provides analyses by political scientists of President Clinton's performance in an era of divided government. Among the frustrations identified by this group of observers are Clinton's failure to define or adhere to his agenda as a "New Democrat", continuing problems caused by his management style and character issues, and his inability to end the gridlock between the presidency and Congress, even with the Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress during his first two years in office. The book assesses the Clinton presidency at mid-term, including the separation-of-powers system, the President's team, relations with Congress, the courts, the executive branch, political parties, interest groups, public opinion, domestic and foreign policies, and presidential leadership. A final, summary chapter considers the results of the 1994 midterm elections and the prospects for the future.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Four years ago, the editors offered a midterm evaluation of the Bush presidency. Now, in this anthology, a dozen political scientists assess the successes and failures of the Clinton presidency and the structural obstacles Clinton faced upon entering office. The contributors look critically at Clinton's reliance on public opinion polls, his management of the White House, his inclination to try to please too many conflicting interest groups and his foreign policy, but they are more forgiving of his inability to loosen Congressional gridlock and even praise his handling of the economy. The essays are somewhat repetitive, as several contributors rehearse the same events of Clinton's first two years in office to illustrate their points about his governing style. This brand of political science is only two steps removed from journalism. Unfortunately, those steps appear to be accessibility and lively writing, while the play-by-play approach of some of the contributors sometimes obscures the big picture. Still, the anthology's exhaustiveness makes it useful for anyone trying to make sense of Clinton's struggles in office.

Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Fourteen well-known political scientists assess President Bill Clinton prior to a final chapter that predicts the likely outcome of the 1996 election, which Walter Dean Burnham gives to the Republicans. The book opens by setting the Clinton administration within the restraints of the separation of powers. Subsequent chapters focus on White House staffing, congressional relations, impact on the judiciary, the party system, interest groups, public opinion, domestic policy, and foreign policy. Coeditor Rockman reminds readers of the complicated dilemma of modern presidential leadership. While the book tends to emphasize Clinton's negatives, the editors acknowledge the flawed predictions in their previous book, The Bush Presidency: First Appraisals (LJ 9/1/91). For academic and larger public library political science collections.
William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Chatham House Pub (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566430143
• ISBN-13: 978-1566430142
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,855,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)