Energy in the Executive

Eastland argues that recent Republican administrations have shied away from exercising the powers granted to the president by the US Constitution. He claims that a more forceful implementation of presidential power would increase govermental efficacy and efficiency. Eastland uses instances from his own experience in the Reagan Justice Department to show how problems could be better dealt with by a dynamic executive. Conservatives' mistrust of government interference should not lead them to neglect powers that could be used to increase the effectiveness of government intervention in areas where it is clearly necessary.