The American Presidency: An Intellectual History [Paperback]

Forrest McDonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 1994

Forrest McDonald is widely recognized as one of our most respected and challenging commentators on the Constitution and the American founding. Writing at the height of his powers as an intellectual historian, he now applies his considerable talents to a study of another venerable institution--the American presidency.

McDonald explores how and why the presidency has evolved into such a complex and powerful institution, unlike any other in the world. He chronicles the presidency's creation, implementation, and evolution and explains why it's still working today despite its many perceived afflictions. Along the way, he provides trenchant commentary on the Constitutional Convention, ratification debates, presidencies of Washington and Jefferson, presidential administration and leadership, presidential--congressional conflicts, the president as chief architect of foreign policy, and the president as myth and symbol. He also analyzes the enormous gap between what we've come to expect of presidents and what they can reasonably hope to accomplish.

Ambitious, comprehensive, and engaging, this is the best single-volume study of an institution that has become troubled and somewhat troublesome yet, in McDonald's words, "has been responsible for less harm and more good than perhaps any other secular institution in history." It will make a fine and necessary companion for understanding the presidency as it moves into its third century.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The 55-month commemoration (1987-91) of the U.S. Constitution and a conference on the White House ( The White House, LJ 12/93) have focused academic attention on the chief executive. The attention is justified, for the office is a nearly unique creation. The central issue explored here is whether our system of checks and balances permits strong leaders or reduces them to presidential pygmies. McDonald strains to emphasize that his history concerns evolving perceptions of the presidency rather than an evaluation of those perceptions. Though he concludes that the office "has been responsible for less harm and more good, in the nation and the world, than perhaps any other secular institution in history," his conservative critique sees a decline in its occupants. This very readable is recommended for informed lay readers, historians, and political scientists.
- William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

A constitutional scholar and author of the acclaimed Novus Ordo Seclorum (1985) presents a topical survey of the powers wielded by the country's chief magistrate. McDonald writes for the lay audience interested in what a president does and the right by which he does it. He parses the subject three ways: the prerevolutionary political philosophies studied by the Founders; the office's creation and the precedent-setting tenures of Washington and Jefferson; and the evolution of the office's expressed and implied powers. No bland civics instructor, McDonald enlivens the ideas underlying the struggles issuing from the Constitution's checks and balances, struggles defined by Lincoln, by the Roosevelts, and (unhappily) by Wilson. Emphasizing the multiple roles a president must handle, from chief law enforcer to chief diplomat, commander-in-chief, and chief pontificator from the "bully pulpit," McDonald supplely handles the gargantuan literature devoted to these areas, running his footnotes beneath his engaging text for those wanting to delve further. A well-written overview compatible with large collections. Gilbert Taylor --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 524 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kansas (February 21, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700607498
• ISBN-13: 978-0700607495
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #806,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be required reading for the entire American populace April 24, 2006

By Ronald Davis

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mr. McDonald, in his excellent book, traces the theory and practice of the presidency from Washington to Clinton. The theme is a comparison of constitutional writings and the framers' intent, an area in which McDonald is expert, compared with the actual events on the ground. The oval-office push for ever increasing amounts of power, dubbed the "Imperial Presidency" during the Nixon administration, is behavior that did not originate with 20th century presidents. McDonald argues that congress bears much if not most of the responsibility in that it has, decade by decade, abdicated its constitutional responsibilities in many areas, creating a partial vacuum into which the presidency has stepped. McDonald points out the large number of undeclared wars presidents, stretching back to Jefferson, have begun with no objection from congress. Lest we have forgotten, the ability to declare war was vested in congress to prevent presidents from "expeditioning" abroad.

The book is heavily footnoted, but that is not a distraction. The bulk of the focus is on the first decades of this country's existence and the historic background to the creation of the office of "President." Much effort has gone into detailing the philosophy considered by the framers. Our constitution was, after all, written during the "Age of Reason." This background is, at least in part, the reason the book is subtitled "An Intellectual History."

The difficulties in defining the role of the president are part of why most democracies opt for a parliamentary style government. Another huge issue, as Lincoln demonstrated by completely ignoring the constitution he claimed to be upholding in the Civil War, is that if the troops remain loyal to the president, the American system of checks and balances can be destroyed much more easily (at least in theory) than in parliament in which the prime minister's coalition could remove him from power.

This book is another of Professor McDonald's carefully researched and well-written series on the foundations of our nation and our government. It is truly a "must read."

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! July 22, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

After reading this book, I feel I really understand the institution of the presidency. Dr. McDonald begins by discussing what sources the founding fathers used in formulating the office of the presidency. Then he discusses how it was implemented primarily through the presidencies of Washington (of which Alexander Hamilton played a major role)and Jefferson. The final portion of the book points out how the institution of the presidency has evolved over time. In short, McDonald has presented a complete history of the presidency.

Excellent!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The American Presidency: An Intellectual History August 21, 2002

By Joe Zika TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

The American Presidency: An Intellectual History written by Forrest McDonald is a book with incisive analysis of political ideas which are found in the characteristics involving the Presidency of the United States. This book is well founded in the history and is solid in early hystory.

The presidency is given a thorough thought-provoking, with historical review, going over... leaving the reader with insight into the institution of the presidency. We are guided with a shrewd sense of political reality, making us understand what the presidency is all about. Reading this book will open up and give us an erudite exanination of the roots of the American presidency... so much so, that you'll feel history come alive and jump right in your lap.

I particularly found the writing on the Washington and Jefferson presidencies to be of great value as the author shows us how these men distinguished the office and made important contributions to our constitutional history. The reader finds out about the awesome responsibilities combined with unique opportunities to persuade others to do their bidding.

In truth, presidentual power is complex and ambiguous, traits that stem from the constitutional provisions for the office... the executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States according to Article 2 of the Constitution... unequivocally. This book is well documented and is written in a masterful narritive, but is easily understood. I found that the early work to be indispensable as the ground work is set and the office is determined. Though the restraints and limits are necessary, they are not, in the nature of things, susceptible to delineation and definition.

As the book progresses on in the life of the presidency we see the individual personallities of the men who served in to office begin to shape the outcome of the office. Making scupulous adherence to written law, self-preservation, and the safety of the nation all interplay in the balance of power between the different branches of the constitutional government.

If you really want to know more about the presidency, look no further as this books gives the reader an illuminating insight with theoretical background of the presidency. this is a very informative and fascinating book.