Publisher's Synopsis
“Great” presidents are by definition successful, yet clearly not all successful presidents are great. The “greats” helped win the country’s independence (George Washington) and established political principals that guide us today (Thomas Jefferson). They kept the Union intact (Abraham Lincoln), and ushered in the Progressive Era—a political framework that helped define the country’s politics for more than a century (Theodore Roosevelt). These are monumental accomplishments, but even presidents deemed “failures” have had some success. So, what actually defines presidential success?
Clearly, a new way to understand presidential success is needed. But what are its elements? What kinds of policies, and proposed solutions to public problems, are likely to contribute to presidential success? How is it possible to initiate successful policies when Americans are so divided about what they want, or what government should do? Is a successful president one who bends the public to his or her will, or one who follows the public’s lead?
These are some of the questions that animate this new, fresh look at the factors for presidential success in a country that has become increasingly divided and despairing of its future. Grounded within political science, psychology, presidential politics, and contemporary American history, this book offers unique commentary and perspectives on these important questions, with analysis leading up to and including the 2016 election.
