Presidential Greatness - Hardcover

Landy, Marc; Milkis, Sidney M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0700610057 ISBN 13: 9780700610051

Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas, 2000

Synopsis

Investigating what exactly makes a US president great, Landy (political science, Boston College) and Milkis (government, U. of Virginia) choose five they believe exhibit greatness and look for what qualities they had in common. They find that Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt all sought to change and improve the nature of the regimes they inherited, and had the good luck to arrive at a time when conditions made such changes possible.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"A searching analysis of what constitutes presidential greatness. Scholars and informed citizens alike will find it both challenging and inspiriting."--William E. Leuchtenburg, author of In the Shadow of FDR: From Harry Truman to Bill Clinton

"At a time when presidents and the presidency itself are on trial, it is good to have this thoughtful, well-documented study of great presidential leadership. While some will challenge the authors' view of FDR as the last great president, FDR's administration does supply a model for future presidents to imitate."--James MacGregor Burns, author of Leadership

"A smart, sober-minded study about the diminishing significance of our executive branch. For anyone interested in presidential politics--which should be all of us--this book is essential reading."--Douglas Brinkley, author of Unfinished Presidency: Jimmy Carter's Journey Beyond the White House

"Landy and Milkis reveal the differences between greatness and grandiosity, between hubris and practical reason. This is an analysis of creative politicians at their best. The authors see 'party government' as the path to these virtues and best way for presidents to combine creativity and accountability. A terrific book."-Erwin C. Hargrove, author of The President as Leader: Appealing to the Better Angels of Our Nature

About the Author:

Marc Landy, professor of political science at Boston College, is the author of The Politics of Environmental Reform and coeditor of The New Politics of Public Policy.

Sidney M. Milkis is professor of government and senior scholar at the Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia. He is the author of The President and the Parties and Political Parties and Constitutional Government.

About this edition

• Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0700610057
• ISBN 13: 9780700610051
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 278