For a quarter-century, Fred
I. Greenstein has been one of our keenest observers of the modern presidency. Here, he
provides a fascinating and instructive account of the qualities that have served well and
poorly in the Oval Office, beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt's first hundred days.
Newly expanded, this second edition now covers the momentous events of George W. Bush's
administration from his handling of the events of September 11 to the war with Iraq.
Throughout, Greenstein
offers a series of bottom-line judgments on each of his twelve subjects and a bold new
explanation of why presidents succeed or fail. He surveys each president's record in
public communication, organizational capacity, political skill, vision, cognitive style,
and emotional intelligence and argues that the last is the most important in predicting
presidential success.
Fred I. Greenstein is
Emeritus Professor of Political Science and Director of the Research Program in Leadership
Studies at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton
University. He is the author or editor of eight books on the presidency and a Fellow of
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is also the past President of the
International Society for Political Psychology.
Review:
"Illuminating. . . . A
perceptive view of the leadership qualities and the events that shaped the triumphs and
tragedies of the modern presidency."--Phil Gailey, New York Times
Endorsements:
"An excellent book. I
support it wholeheartedly."--Dick Cheney, May 3, 2000
"A wonderful book. . .
. For journalists, it is a great checklist as to what we ought to be--but probably are not
likely to be--looking for in a presidential candidate."--David Broder
"Among the many
excellent books on the American presidency, Greenstein's The Presidential Difference will
occupy a unique position. Greenstein not only provides succinct descriptions of the person
and presidency of every incumbent in the office from FDR to Clinton, but he also presents
the reader with highly informed, judicious, shrewd, and entirely nonpartisan judgments
about the qualities that have made for success and failure in that demanding office. His
descriptions and evaluations make it a book that can be read with profit by everyone who
cares about American political life, and, as appears to be the author's intent,
particularly by future incoming presidents."--Robert A. Dahl, author of On Democracy
316 pages