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Concordia University *
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Jan 9, 2024
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CHAPTER 1:
Introduction
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The author has chosen not to alter the original book, except for minor corrections, and to add to the Preface and Afterword.
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The book primarily focuses on the challenges it presents to the idea of modern presidents being separate from their predecessors.
Main Themes and Objectives
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Debunks the "modern presidency" thesis.
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Emphasizes presidents as agents of political change.
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Examines the premises presidents use to instigate political change and the capacity of the American presidency to fulfill these premises.
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Identifies recurrent patterns in leadership throughout presidential history.
Irregularities in Cycles of Presidential History
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Different periods between political reconstructions (e.g., 28 years between Jackson and Jefferson, 72 years between Roosevelt and Lincoln).
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Importance placed on different types of leadership within periods between reconstructions.
Presidential Action Theory
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Highlights the disruptive political effect of assuming the presidency.
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Presidential leadership is about resolving the disruptive effect and creating a legitimate political order.
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Leadership outcomes depend more on the incumbent's political authority than on institutional resources.
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Theory includes typical contexts, characteristic leadership premises, and expected political outcomes.
Secular Change and the Modern Presidency
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Leadership patterns were reshaped during different historical periods.
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Tracks the evolution of leadership types with the expansion of the institutional presidency.
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Examines the blurred boundaries of leadership types over time.
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The "modern presidency" signifies a moderation in differences between consecutive presidents.
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The analysis suggests long-standing patterns remain prominent, even among recent leaders.
Presidents in Broader Politics
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The book's perspective of presidents as a disruptive force in politics.
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Emphasis on the presidency as a consistent source of change.
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Analysis explores varied leadership capacities and paradoxical political effects.
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Describes the negotiation of change as inherent to the presidential role.
Critiques and Observations
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Some argue the portrayal of the presidency is too dominating.
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Others feel the book is too subtle, questioning whether it overstates presidents' understanding of their historical roles.
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The debate between the politics presidents create versus the influence of politics
on shaping presidents.
Author's Reflections
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The author argues that presidents have an innate understanding of their political identities.
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The history outlined in the book was created incrementally by successors reacting to the legacies of their predecessors.
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There's a balance between analyzing the politics presidents create and recognizing the influence of politics on shaping them.
In essence, the Preface serves as a detailed examination of the recurring patterns of presidential
leadership throughout history, the challenges and critiques faced by the book, and the author's defense and reflections on these issues.
The excerpt provided discusses the challenges of understanding presidential leadership and its influence on American politics. The text contends that each presidency is shaped by a unique combination of personal agency and the political context in which the president operates.
Key Points:
1.
Leadership Context and Individual Agency:
The author argues against viewing presidents as mere products of their times. Instead, they suggest that understanding the
specific political contexts in which presidents operate can highlight the distinctiveness and significance of their individual efforts.
2.
Historical Significance of Individual Presidents:
Through examples like Grover Cleveland,
Theodore Roosevelt, and Jimmy Carter, the author illustrates how these presidents were not simply passive actors in their times but played active roles in shaping the course of events.
3.
The Making of a Context:
The author emphasizes the role of individual presidents in creating their own contexts. The example of Jimmy Carter highlights how he carved out a
unique political position that was not predetermined by his time.
4.
Omission in the Original Text:
The author notes that while their book discussed four types of leadership, it delved into detail on only three, with the fourth – preemptive leadership – being set aside. The author recognizes the significance of this kind of leadership, as exemplified by (presumably Bill) Clinton's "third way."
5.
Rethinking Presidential History:
The text critiques the traditional approach of compartmentalizing presidencies into periods. The author suggests that this method obscures the individual impacts presidents have on the political landscape.
6.
Neustadt’s Analysis:
Richard Neustadt's periodization of presidential history is critically examined. While Neustadt's work provided clarity by grouping presidents based on the challenges they faced, the author argues that this approach oversimplifies the complexities and nuances of individual presidencies.
7.
Disruptive Nature of Presidencies:
The author underscores that presidencies, by nature,
challenge and disrupt established systems. The political significance of a presidency isn’t just about effectively managing a given system, but also about reshaping it.
8.
Challenges of Periodization:
The author emphasizes that segmenting presidential history into neat periods or eras can be misleading. This is because each president, while
influenced by their era, also plays a role in reshaping politics and setting the stage for their successors.
In summary, the author calls for a more nuanced understanding of presidential history, one that takes into account the individual agency of presidents, the unique contexts in which they operate, and the transformative effects they have on American politics.
This excerpt offers a deep dive into the intricacies and complexities of presidential leadership, political dynamics, and the historiography of the U.S. presidency. Here are the primary points and themes:
1.
Periodization and Limitations:
The text critiques the tendency to study presidential leadership by breaking it into distinct historical periods. The author suggests that doing so risks simplifying the unique political dynamics of each era and each presidency, potentially missing patterns and insights that cut across different time frames.
2.
Presidential Comparisons:
By juxtaposing presidents from different eras (e.g., Reagan, Carter, Bush, and Jackson or Adams and Jefferson), the author highlights that while some
presidents may share certain external conditions, their leadership styles, actions, and impacts can be vastly different.
3.
Patterns of Success and Failure:
The text notes the recurring historical pattern of an ineffective or less popular president being followed by a highly effective or beloved one. This observation prompts questions about the conditions and factors that contribute to the perceived greatness or failure of a president.
4.
Multiple Layers of Institutional Action:
The author identifies three primary "orderings" that presidents engage with when they act: constitutional prerogatives, organizational resources, and political commitments. These orderings evolve over time and in relation to each other, resulting in complex, layered institutional action.
5.
Reinterpretation of Historical Debates:
By identifying these multiple layers of institutional action, the author provides a new lens to reinterpret debates about the significance and impacts of various presidencies, suggesting that often these debates are
assessing different layers or dimensions of a president’s legacy.
6.
Temporal View of Institutional Politics:
Instead of viewing history as neatly segmented periods, the author promotes a perspective that emphasizes the interplay of order and change, where institutions and leaders are in a constant dance of influence and reaction.
7.
Comparative Methodology:
The approach described involves grouping presidents according to different ordering principles, allowing for comparisons that highlight different aspects of their leadership while acknowledging the unique context of each presidency.
8.
Illustration with James K. Polk:
The case of James K. Polk serves as an example of how a president can be understood in terms of his constitutional actions, highlighting the universal challenges and dynamics faced by every president when attempting to wield the powers of the office.
In summary, this excerpt challenges traditional periodized views of the U.S. presidency and promotes a more nuanced, multi-dimensional understanding of presidential leadership, arguing for an approach that acknowledges the layered complexities of institutional politics and the unique circumstances of each presidential era.
This lengthy excerpt delves deeply into the presidency of James K. Polk, drawing out the larger institutional and historical contexts that shaped his leadership and the era of American politics he represented. Here are some key points:
1.
Party Period
: Polk's presidency is placed within the "party period" which extended from the 1830s to the end of the 19th century. This period is characterized by the dominance of political parties in organizing and shaping governmental operations.
2.
Dark Horse Candidate
: Polk was the first "dark horse" candidate, indicating he was not initially considered a major contender but was eventually chosen as a compromise or unexpected choice by his party.
3.
Jacksonian Politics
: Polk's presidency is associated with Jacksonian politics, the political philosophy of Andrew Jackson and his followers, emphasizing the importance of the common man and populism.
4.
Three Reference Sets
:
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Constitutional Design: Responsibilities all presidents share under the U.S. Constitution.
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Organizational Operations: Commonalities of presidents from a given historical era based on the government’s structure and resources.
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Political Relationship: The president's connection to previously established ideological commitments.
5.
Polk’s Leadership Challenges
: Despite being committed to the Jacksonian principles, Polk grappled with the inherent powers of his office that disrupted previously established arrangements. He tried to imprint Jacksonian orthodoxy on government policies but faced challenges in stamping his personal will on the nation and party.
6.
Comparisons with Other Presidents
: The text suggests comparing Polk's presidency to others, like Buchanan, Lincoln, and Lyndon Johnson, to understand the broader patterns of presidential leadership and the evolving nature of the presidency.
7.
The Dilemma of the Orthodox-Innovator
: Both Polk and Johnson faced the challenge of staying true to established party platforms while also innovating and responding to current events.
8.
Modern vs. Premodern Presidencies
: The piece questions the difference between modern and premodern presidencies and how the changing nature of the role and office
has impacted the politics each president made.
9.
Institutional Logic of Political Disruption
: The excerpt argues that presidencies, like Polk’s, show how institutional actors juggling different power arrangements can lead to unexpected political shifts.
10.
Conflict Within the Presidency
: Due to the different expectations and pressures on the office, presidential actions can often be at odds with each other, leading to unintended outcomes. Yet, the office's capacity to disrupt established power arrangements can be seen as an asset in a democratic society.
In summary, the text provides a nuanced perspective on James K. Polk’s presidency, considering the multiple historical, institutional, and political contexts that shaped it. The broader argument is about the nature of the presidency itself, emphasizing its role as both a stabilizing and disruptive force in American politics.
CHAPTER 2:
Chapter 2: Power and Authority
1. Introduction to Franklin Pierce's Presidency
Franklin Pierce's commitment: Determined to impact during his presidency in the 19th century.
Major act: Supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which changed national politics.
Outcome: Despite achieving his goal, he ended up damaging his presidency.
2. Power vs. Authority in Presidencies
Power: Ability and resources presidents have to effect change.
Authority: The expectations surrounding a president’s actions and justifications for those
actions.
Key issue: Presidents often have the power to act but struggle with maintaining authority – the legitimacy of their actions.
Measure of a successful leader: Not merely accomplishments but controlling the narrative and perception of their actions.
3. Historical Context of Presidential Actions
Presidents' actions shape and are shaped by their historical context.
Aim of presidents: Secure a meaningful place in history.
Challenge: Balancing personal presidential ambitions with the realities of their given historical moments.
Politics of presidency: A mix of personal intent and the actual political outcome of their actions.
4. Nature of Presidential Leadership
Paradox: The inherent conflict between the presidency's order-disrupting and order-
creating tendencies.
Root of the paradox: Article II of the Constitution.
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Dual responsibilities: “execute the office of President” (implies change) and “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” (implies maintaining order).
Complexity: Presidents must navigate a system where other branches can challenge their authority.
Goal: Create a legitimate new political order while maintaining existing values.
5. Alexander Hamilton’s Perspective
Concern: The potential disorder resulting from the frequent change of presidents.
Hamilton's observation: New presidents often reverse predecessor's actions, seeing it as a proof of their competence.
Issue: Every president wanting to establish their unique administration can lead to instability.
Solution: A four-year term with the possibility of reelection to provide continuity and minimize disruptions.
Implicit claim: Newly elected presidents, especially those replacing incumbents, bring an
inherent mandate for change.
Conclusion
Presidential leadership is marked by a constant tug-of-war between creating change and preserving established order. The dynamics of power and authority play a pivotal role in determining a president's success in navigating these challenges. The challenge isn't just about making changes, but doing so in a way that maintains the president's authority and the nation's trust.
Detailed Summary of the Article
Historical Experience of the Presidency
The presidency has often changed hands.
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George Washington's Precedent
: Established a two-term limit.
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Frequency of Terms
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Only 20% served two full terms.
20% served less than a full term.
Another 20% were unable to serve full elected terms.
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Twenty-second Amendment
: Formalized the two-term limit.
Political Implications of Succession
:
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More disruptions than Hamilton anticipated.
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Successor-predecessor political relationships vary.
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Few presidents explicitly reject their predecessors.
Some continue previous courses.
Some act as stand-ins.
Some wish to change course but lack clear reasons.
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Hamilton's Assumption
: The most dangerous scenario is when a president is elected based on rejecting their predecessor.
Washington to Adams Succession
John Adams' Inheritance
:
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He affirmed Washington's policies and personnel.
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Adams faced challenges from Hamilton's loyalists in his cabinet.
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Adams' initial affirmation of stability hindered his presidential capacity.
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Adams struggled to establish legitimacy amidst controversies.
The Priority of Authority
Questions Faced by Presidents
:
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What is affirmed? Repudiated? Betrayed? Sacrificed?
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Presidents face intense scrutiny.
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Ambiguities in a president's stance can be exploited.
Question of Authority
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Leadership's success lies in establishing authority.
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Lincoln’s Quote: Importance of knowing one's place in history.
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Leaders must first define their role in the nation's history.
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Importance of sustaining the established narrative.
Presidential Slogans
Slogans define leadership projects, e.g., New Deal, Fair Deal.
Importance lies in political identity and vision behind the slogan.
Presidential Examples: Roosevelt vs. Johnson
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