The American Presidency, 1945-2000: Illusions of Grandeur
by By Bennett, G. H.
Category: Political Science , Political Process , General

This volume explores the radical changes in the historical role of the president since 1945, with an opening chapter looking at the evolving nature of the office from the 18th to the 20th century. The central argument is that after 1945, as the issue of national security became the dominant theme of American politics, the power of the presidency increased enormously. The outbreak of the Cold War and the passing of the National Security Act in 1947, setting up the CIA, gave the president unparalleled powers. Presidents could now exercise power in the name of, but not always with the consent of, the American people. The paranoia of successive presidents is another theme of the book, from Truman's and Kennedy's fear of Communism, through to Johnson's and Nixon's fears of political intrigues and rivals. Watergate and its impact on presidential power through Ford and Carter is fully explored, as is the reassertion of strong presidential leadership through a dynamic foreign policy under Reagan and Bush. The crisis of the presidency, with the American people groping backwards to the notion of a caretaker president who does nothing wrong, rather than an activist president, forms the final section. As chief executive of the only remaining superpower, the US president occupies a unique political space. Giving equal weight to domestic and foreign concerns, Harry Bennett offers an account of this key area of contemporary political history.