The Man in the White House: His Powers and Duties

The Constitution of the United States says little about the president's specific duties other than the enforcement of the laws of the land. Combining brilliant scholarship with a lively style, this book reveals how deep-seated forces, inherent in American society and affecting the presidency for over two centuries, have transformed the office created by the framers of the Constitution into the complex, powerful, and responsible institution it is today.The administrations of the "strong" presidents have added to the powers and duties of the office as we know them. In addition, social and political forces such as the growth of political parties, economic and geographic expansion, and the changing nature of the national government have all had their influence on the presidency. Binkley traces the history of these processes and illustrates them with vivid examples of how they worked for a number of presidents, including Washington, Jackson, Polk, Lincoln, the two Roosevelts, and Eisenhower.Every chapter of the book brings a fresh and authoritative approach to an office and an institution that is the subject of searching debates today.