The American Presidency is one of the most popular books ever published on America's highest office. Clinton Rossiter's eloquent and insightful classic now appears with a substantial new introduction by Michael Nelson. Firmly grounded in history, constitutional analysis, and political culture, The American Presidency examines the evolution of presidential powers and limitations and evaluates the performances of individual presidents since Washington's inauguration in 1789.
Michael Nelson's introduction carries Rossiter's analysis from the Kennedy years through Vietnam and Watergate to the present. Interpretations of the office have lurched from "imperial" to "imperiled"; the Reagan administration embodies aspects of both. Written nearly thirty years ago, Rossiter's words remain timely and uncannily prophetic: "The President himself must set the tone for the operations of the Executive Office. He must insist that he be spared routine but not thought and decision, for he is, after all, the responsible head of government. He must be careful not to rely too heavily on the briefings and opinions of his own staff, for he will soon find himself out of touch with harsh reality."