United States, Military, Leadership, Propaganda & Political Psychology, Public Affairs & Administration, Communication Policy 

As Americans choose and install a new president for a new century they could do no better than to read this work by one of our keenest observers of the modern presidency. Drawing on a quarter-century's immersion in the presidential record and scores of interviews, Fred I. Greenstein provides a fascinating and instructive account of the qualities that have served well and poorly in the Oval Office from Franklin D. Roosevelt's first hundred days to the end of the Clinton administration.
Greenstein offers a series of bottom-line judgments on each of his eleven subjects and a bold new explanation of why presidents succeed or fail. Previous analysts have placed their bets on the president's political prowess or personal character. Yet by the first standard, LBJ should have been our greatest president, and by the second the nod would go to Jimmy Carter. Greenstein surveys each president's record in public communication, political skill, vision, cognitive style, and emotional intelligence. He concludes that the last is by far the most important.

According to Greenstein, FDR provides endless positive lessons but is a source of warnings. Truman let his bizarre readings of history lead him astray. Eisenhower was wise but failed to communicate a vision. Kennedy had no vision. Reagan was Carter in reverse. It is Ford who is most unappreciated and genuinely interesting. Ford balanced many conflicting demands, kept his poise, and left the office much stronger than he found it.

Presidents can avoid failure if they are willing to accept the warnings of failures past and act accordingly. But it is not only presidents who should read this book with care. Some flaws cannot be overcome no matter how otherwise talented the man. Only three of Greenstein's eleven modern presidents were "fundamentally free of distracting emotional perturbations." When we choose our presidents, we will do well to listen to Greenstein and "Beware the presidential contender who lacks emotional intelligence. In its absence all else may turn to ashes."

Library of Congress subject headings for this publication: Presidents United States History, Personality and politics United States History, Political leadership United States History, United States Politics and government 

1. The Presidential Difference
2. The Virtuosic Leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt
3. The Uneven Leadership of Harry S. Truman
4. The Unexpected Eisenhower
5. Coming to Terms with Kennedy
6. Lyndon B. Johnson and the Primacy of Politics
7. The Paradox of Richard Nixon
8. The Instructive Presidency of Gerald Ford
9. Jimmy Carter and the Politics of Rectitude
10. Ronald Reagan: The Innocent as Agent of Change
11. The Highly Tactical Leadership of George Bush
12. The Undisciplined Bill Clinton
13. Lessons from the Modern Presidency

Appendix: Background on the Modern Presidency
Notes
Further Reading
Acknowledgments
Index  

Includes bibliographical references and index.