The Isolated Presidency
Published on 12. November 2023
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-0-19-766977-8 (ISBN)
Description
Since before the ratification of the Constitution, students, scholars, and statesmen in American politics have grappled with an important question: how powerful is the President of the United States? For many scholars, it is a question that can be answered only by considering factors outside the office itself, such as the president's popularity, personal clout, political talents, or institutional relationships.
In The Isolated Presidency, Jordan T. Cash re-frames this question to instead ask what authority is available to all presidents. Drawing on the Constitution itself, Cash argues that the presidency possesses an internal logic derived from its structure, duties, and powers which not only grants the president a unique institutional perspective, but also provides the president with considerable agency and discretion in pursuing agendas.
To gain a clear view of how the Constitution creates a baseline of authority that is available to all presidents, Cash examines the "isolated presidents"--presidents who were unelected, faced divided government, and were opposed by major factions of their own political parties. Stripped of all external supports, these presidents were left with nothing but their constitutional authority to rely on. Yet despite their disadvantageous circumstances, these presidents were able to achieve major policy successes solely by use of their constitutional powers. Through three case studies of isolated presidents, Cash illustrates how the Constitution creates an empowering logic within the presidency which orients presidential behavior and grants every president significant power and agency. As American politics remains polarized and divided, The Isolated Presidency provides lessons and examples of what constitutionally derived actions a president can take when confronted with the recurring issues of divided government and political gridlock.
In The Isolated Presidency, Jordan T. Cash re-frames this question to instead ask what authority is available to all presidents. Drawing on the Constitution itself, Cash argues that the presidency possesses an internal logic derived from its structure, duties, and powers which not only grants the president a unique institutional perspective, but also provides the president with considerable agency and discretion in pursuing agendas.
To gain a clear view of how the Constitution creates a baseline of authority that is available to all presidents, Cash examines the "isolated presidents"--presidents who were unelected, faced divided government, and were opposed by major factions of their own political parties. Stripped of all external supports, these presidents were left with nothing but their constitutional authority to rely on. Yet despite their disadvantageous circumstances, these presidents were able to achieve major policy successes solely by use of their constitutional powers. Through three case studies of isolated presidents, Cash illustrates how the Constitution creates an empowering logic within the presidency which orients presidential behavior and grants every president significant power and agency. As American politics remains polarized and divided, The Isolated Presidency provides lessons and examples of what constitutionally derived actions a president can take when confronted with the recurring issues of divided government and political gridlock.
Reviews / Votes
It is increasingly rare to learn something from books on the presidency, but Jordan Cash has written a book that will surprise and delight. In addition to offering pathbreaking work on our three 'isolated presidents,' Cash's book reminds us of the many ways that the Constitution creates presidential power. * Jeremy D. Bailey, Sanders Chair in Law and Liberty, University of Oklahoma * Can a president govern without relying on such extra-constitutional sources of authority as support of popular opinion, an election mandate, majority party backing in Congress, and the use of various 'powers of persuasion' identified by Richard Neustadt? In this careful and ingenious study, Jordan Cash responds to this question by examining the presidencies of John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, and Gerald Ford, who by circumstances or choice drew less on informal authority than nearly all who have held the office. In showing that these men survived and even had some successes, Cash reminds us of the importance of beginning the study of the presidency with looking at the formal powers the president possesses. * James W. Ceaser, Harry F. Byrd Professor of Politics, University of Virginia * By examining those vice presidents who are forced to assume the office after a death, assassination, or resignation, Cash successfully isolates and establishes the inherent constitutional authority of the presidency. Because of its unique focus, this book will become one of the seminal books on the presidency. It achieves what many scholars have asserted but never fully established: the Constitution, on its own, gives the president a great deal of authority. This is a path-breaking and important book. * Benjamin A. Kleinerman, R.W. Morrison Professor of Political Science, Baylor University * Jordan Cash shows the Constitution to be the major source of presidential power by looking at very hard cases-presidents who are among those thought to be the weakest and least ineffective. Even these 'isolated presidents' deployed considerable power stemming from the place of the executive in the constitutional order. Original, insightful, exceptionally well written, a must read for presidency scholars and their students. * Jeffrey K. Tulis, Professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin * Jordan Cash shows the Constitution to be the major source of presidential power by looking at very hard cases-presidents who are among those thought to be the weakest and least ineffective. Even these 'isolated presidents' deployed considerable power stemming from the place of the executive in the constitutional order. Original, insightful, exceptionally well written, a must read for presidency scholars and their students. * Jeffrey K. Tulis, Professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin * This work is a wonderful resource for political scientists and historians. Cash offers an intriguing and enlightening contribution to the field of presidential studies. * Choice *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 164 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
585 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-766977-8 (9780197669778)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Jordan T. Cash is an Assistant Professor in the James Madison College at Michigan State University. His research focuses on American politics, constitutional law, and American political thought and development. His work has appeared in Polity; American Political Thought; Presidential Studies Quarterly; Law and History Review; Congress & the Presidency; Journal of Transatlantic Studies; and Laws. He has also published chapters in several edited volumes. He was previously a Lecturer at Baylor University and the Founding Director of the Zavala Program for Constitutional Studies, as well as a post-doctoral research specialist in the Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy at the University of Virginia.
Content
Acknowledgements
Introduction: The Baseline of Presidential Power
Chapter 1: The Constitutional Logic of the Presidency
Chapter 2: John Tyler: The Expelled President
Chapter 3: Andrew Johnson: The Impeached President
Chapter 4: Gerald Ford: The Appointed President
Conclusion: Lessons from the Isolated Presidents
Appendix: Defining the Isolated Presidency
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Introduction: The Baseline of Presidential Power
Chapter 1: The Constitutional Logic of the Presidency
Chapter 2: John Tyler: The Expelled President
Chapter 3: Andrew Johnson: The Impeached President
Chapter 4: Gerald Ford: The Appointed President
Conclusion: Lessons from the Isolated Presidents
Appendix: Defining the Isolated Presidency
Notes
Bibliography
Index