Thinking About the Presidency: The Primacy of Power

by William G. Howell, David Milton Brent (Primary Contributor)

How the search for power defines the American presidential office

All American presidents, past and present, have cared deeply about power―acquiring, protecting, and expanding it. While individual presidents obviously have other concerns, such as shaping policy or building a legacy, the primacy of power considerations―exacerbated by expectations of the presidency and the inadequacy of explicit powers in the Constitution―sets presidents apart from other political actors. Thinking about the Presidency explores presidents' preoccupation with power. Distinguished presidential scholar William Howell looks at the key aspects of executive power―political and constitutional origins, philosophical underpinnings, manifestations in contemporary political life, implications for political reform, and looming influences over the standards to which we hold those individuals elected to America's highest office.

Howell shows that an appetite for power may not inform the original motivations of those who seek to become president. Rather, this need is built into the office of the presidency itself―and quickly takes hold of whoever bears the title of Chief Executive. In order to understand the modern presidency, and the degrees to which a president succeeds or fails, the acquisition, protection, and expansion of power in a president's political life must be recognized―in policy tools and legislative strategies, the posture taken before the American public, and the disregard shown to those who would counsel modesty and deference within the White House.

Thinking about the Presidency assesses how the search for and defense of presidential powers informs nearly every decision made by the leader of the nation. In a new preface, Howell reflects on presidential power during the presidency of Barack Obama.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Will Steiner]

As an introduction to the presidency and its powers, Howell does an incredible job making it simultaneously accessible and thorough. While there were some strange chapter placements (the majority of chapter 4 particularly seemed a non sequitur with the rest of the book), Howell’s book explains difficult concepts through lenses that the everyday person understands. I read this as an introductory book for a course on the presidency, and I couldn’t think of a better read than this one.

[Zachary]

After reading this book I knew Will Howell was definitely the right choice as a graduate advisor. Book analyzes the practical reality that president's deal with in our present political world and examines how it developed.

[Bailey Conner]

read it first school but it counts!

[Louis]

Interesting, filled with pertinent information and facts. I wouldn't have read it if it weren't required for a class I'm in, but if you're interested in the topic: Howell does a good job with this one.