The evolution from the traditional to the modern Presidency took a century - the shift from the modern to the postmodern Presidency has occurred within two decades. The transition to a world in which Presidents must bargain with leaders of other nations has occurred so abruptly that some presidential candidates have yet to notice it. Yet even the briefest consideration of America's position in the world economy makes it clear that the days are gone when President Kennedy could pledge that America would pay any price to lead the world. This book is divided into four parts. Part I describes what the "postmodern presidency" is - the imperatives for action, the standards for assessing performance and how the Presidency differs from other forms of democratic government. Part II analyses the tangible and intangible resources of the Presidency. Part III considers the way in which economic problems and national security issues are dealt with - in Washington and in an international system which America can no longer dominate. Part IV evaluates how American people judge a President and how other countries view the Oval Office.
Richard Rose is Professor of Inclusive Education and Director of the Centre for Education and Research, University of Northampton. He has previously held teaching posts in several parts of the UK including a time as headteacher. Richard has researched and published extensively in the area of special and inclusive education both in the UK and internationally. He is Director of Project IRIS, a longitudinal study of special needs provision in the Republic of Ireland. Richard works regularly in India and has also conducted research and consultancy in several other countries including Georgia, Malaysia, Singapore, China and Estonia.
Part 1 Imperative pressures for success: the emergence of the postmodern Presidency - from the traditional to the postmodern President; learning to live with other elephants; the imperatives of the Presidency - going Washington; going public; going international; juggling imperatives; assessing the Presidency - conflicting standards for the modern President; the postmodern President; between world leadership and global failure; widening the view from the Oval office - an alternative to the Presidency; subgovernments and government; the responsibility gap. Part 2 Tangible and intangible resources of leadership: resources and constraints of government - how much does government do?; government as a constraint; sizing up resources means cutting the President down to size; learning to campaign or learning to govern? - coming in from the outside; another way - going government; comings and goings of leaders; perpetually campaigning for support - leading a no-party system; courting mass popularity through the media, courting Congress; taking over the White House - hitting the ground running - energy in search of direction; keeping control within the White House; political strategies for organizing the White House; the President - a chief but not an executive - coming to terms with the executive branch; the President as a policy taster; keeping out of trouble; influencing organized anarchy. Part 3 Problems of leadership without hegemony: the economy - an open market for policy - trying to manage a bucking-bronco economy; adding up numbers that don't add up; living with your banker; national security - one country but many voices - allies and enemies within Washington; pursuing security from the White House; the international system is stronger than the President - keeping the military balance; the end of American hegemony; toward American-Japanese bigemony; the White House in an open market. Part 4 Evaluation: how popular should a President be? - how much approval?; when a President should be unpopular; no long-term decline; as the world closes in - after Reagan, the great asymmetry; the future of the postmodern President; George Bush as a postmodern President; guardianship - the idea of the Bush presidency; the budget inheritance; foreigners with alien policies; the test of war in the Persian Gulf; vulnerability of a postmodern president. Appendices: Presidents of the United States; the President in the constitution; inaugural address of President John F.Kennedy; nomination acceptance speech of George Bush; inaugural address of President George Bush.
