Presidency and Domestic Policy

Michael A. Genovese is Director of the Institute for Leadership Studies and holds the Loyola Chair of Leadership as Professor of Political Science at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He received his PhD in political science from the University of Southern California and has authored over 30 books and edits a series on the presidency. Genovese has won numerous awards for outstanding teaching and scholarship. Todd L. Belt is Professor of Political Science at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. He received his PhD at the University of Southern California. He is the coauthor of the books We Interrupt This Newscast: How to Improve Local News and Win Ratings, Too and Getting Involved: A Guide to Student Citizenship. William W. Lammers (late) was Professor of Political Science at the University of Southern California. He was an authority on presidential politics and federal policies toward the aging, and he dedicated his research to American political processes and public policy formation. His books include Presidential Politics: Patterns and Prospects and Public Policy and the Aging.

List of Tables
Preface

Part I. The High Opportunity Presidents
Chapter 1. Strategies for Assessing Presidents
Chapter 2. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Artful Leadership during Hard Times
Chapter 3. Lyndon B. Johnson: Legislative Leadership and a Credibility Gap
Chapter 4. Ronald Reagan: One Big Year
Chapter 5. George W. Bush: A Resolute Decider with a Co-President

Part II. The Moderate Opportunity Presidents
Chapter 6. Harry S. Truman: A Broker with Beliefs
Chapter 7. Dwight D. Eisenhower: A Skilled Centrist
Chapter 8. John F. Kennedy: A Quest for Heroic Leadership
Chapter 9. Barack Obama: A Negotiator without a Partner

Part III. The Low Opportunity Presidents
Chapter 10. Richard Nixon: An Activist with an Enemies List
Chapter 11. Jimmy Carter: An Outsider’s Pursuit of “Trustee†Leadership
Chapter 12. George Bush: A Reluctant Guardian
Chapter 13. Bill Clinton: A Perpetual Campaigner under Siege

Part IV. Conclusion
Chapter 14. Opportunities, Challenges, and Skills: Comparing the Presidents

Select Bibliography
Subject Index
Citations of Authors