Presidential Power And Rthe Modern Presidents; A Critical Review Essay

Presidential Power And Rthe Modern Presidents; A Critical Review Presidential Leadership Many scholars and academics have claimed that Richard Neustadt's book Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents, a brilliant and insightful commentary on not only the workings of the office of the president but also the pitfalls any president can encounter as well as the way personality and leadership fit into the making of a president. In short, Neustadt almost gives us a model for what a president must be and what he must and must not do. He relives decisions and actions made by past presidents that have affected presidential leadership and power. It is easy to see why many attribute this book the status that it well deserves. It is easy to see why Kennedy reportedly kept a copy of the first edition of this book with him in the oval office. This book is a classic introspective study of the presidency that is unparalleled in quality. For the most part, Neustadt does not look at presidents individually. Rather he takes situations that relate to his arguments and discusses how different presidents or depending on the situation a certain president dealt with that situation. He begins with what he calls three cases of command that he falls back on continuously through the work. He uses Truman's tenuous relationship and eventual dismissal of MacArthur, the decision of Eisenhower to use troops to enforce integration of schools in Arkansas, and the seizure of the steel industry by Truman. He repeatedly refers to the first two of these but uses the latter very little to illustrate his points after initial discussion. The basic structure is very effective because it provides for a study of the presidency as an institution, not a study of presidents. Neustadt does not underemphasize the role that personality and style plays in term of each president. He uses it to support many of his assertions. He correctly points out that personality and style contributes to all aspects of how any man serves as president but it is not everything. Personality and style do not account for experience, intellect, and temperament. Neustadt does n excellent job of showing how all of these factors relate and combine to form a president and a presidential style. He shows how these factors influence presidential decision making as well as contribute to presidential inadequacies and pitfalls of administrations. Neustadt also discusses everything that he believes attributes to presidential power. In doing so, he is constantly referring back to the original three cases studied, commenting on them and introducing other relevant experiences. His topics range from the power to persuade, reputation, prestige, and personalities of men in office. In the course of this he reveals what he believes to be the most important traits of any president. He feels that presidents need not necessarily be a genius, but rather somewhat intelligent with outstanding temperament, which I take to mean personality, as well as the experience in government to understand the duties and effectively serve as president. Neustadt then examines subsequent presidents in situational terms. He begins with Kennedy and the final president he examines in Reagan. He examines Ford, Carter, and the one aspect of Reagan's presidency on transitional terms and speaks on the problems that presidential transitions can cause. He also uses the experiences of Kennedy with the Bay of Pigs as excellent background and primary information in this study. Neustadt concludes his examination of presidential leadership with what is without a doubt the best example of all of his main points wrapped together and effecting presidential decision making and leadership. Neustadt looks at the Iran Contra affair and the involvement of Reagan in the affair. The scandal and Reagan's involvement or lack thereof illustrates and gives life to all of Neustadt's assertions and arguments. It is almost as if the Iran Contra Affair is a case study in presidential leadership and power that illustrates and gives life to all of Neustadt's main points. It fits in with his arguments almost flawlessly. Overall, this book can almost be viewed almost as a how to book for the presidency. It is very comprehensive and would give any president or candidate for that matter direction in how to be an