Forrest Mcdonald's the American Presidency: Term Paper

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McDonald also covers the evolution of the presidency, noting that the "level of expectation has been accelerated over the years by developments in the technology and communications" (278). In addition, the perception of the president has changed as well. As a society, we come to expect more from our president. In addition, the current-day president faces more perils than the president did one hundred years ago.

McDonald also delves into the responsibilities of the president, from executing laws to how he handles his administration. A close observation of the how the administration works allows us to see how things have evolved over decades. McDonald describes a paralysis that evolved over years regarding Congress and how it interacts with the president. He asserts that the "history of the presidency in the twentieth century has been a history of presidents' attempts to gain control of the sprawling federal bureaucracy" (329).

The primary theme we find in the book is that the president of the United States is obligated to play the role of "king-surrogate" (459) even though this is not exactly what the framers of the Constitution had in mind. McDonald asserts that the presidency is essentially a monarchy in disguise. McDonald also maintains that the office has declined since George Washington and Thomas Jefferson with the exception of Ronald Reagan who, "like Jefferson, brought to the presidency a fully conceived set of goals" (342) that in domestic affairs "were mutasis mutandis, much the same as Jefferson's had been" 342). McDonald also favors Richard Nixon, who he predicts will be remembered as one of America's great presidents "depending upon the course of history takes in the future" (468).

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McDonald leaves us with the ultimate question concerning the presidency, which asks if the office has become a "troubled and somewhat troublesome institution" (479). This is a question that only time can answer but McDonald leaves us with much to ponder. McDonald also provides an interesting "Afterthoughts" section that offers his insight on the president, including how the president keeps up with everything that is going on in the country. Furthermore, he shows us the psychological and physical toll the presidency can have on an individual.

Overall, the American Presidency: An Intellectual History is an easy read, providing an in-depth examination of the presidency. McDonald whittles a significant amount of information down into bite-size morsels that allow us to understand more about this position. From Washington to Clinton, McDonald may give us some of his own points-of-view but he gives them to us in a way that allows us to make our own distinctions and form our own opinions.

This book is an excellent resource for the political science buff and the history enthusiast, providing ample sources and references. Perhaps the most important aspect of this book is the ease of reading and realistic point-of-view McDonald provides. Being the president of the United States is a big job and, more importantly, a stressful job that never ends as long as the president is in office. It may seem glamorous but the public does not see or know the complete story. We see the past, the present, and we even have a faint glimpse into the future with this book - a must for anyone interested in the individual running the United.....

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