The American Presidency: An Intellectual History

US: Univ Pr of Kansas, 1994. Paperback. Very Good. Jefferson Lecturer and Pulitzer Prize finalist Forrest McDonald is widely r ecognized as one of our most respected and challenging historians of the Co nstitution. He has been called brilliant, provocative, controversial, passi onate, pugnacious, and crafty in intellectual combat. Whatever the label, h e remains unsurpassed as a commentator on the American founding. Novus Ordo Seclorum, his best-known work, was hailed as "magisterial," "a t our-de-force," "the American history book of the decade," "the best single book on the origins of the U.S. Constitution," and was featured on Bill Moy ers's highly praised PBS series In Search of the Constitution. McDonald now applies his considerable talents to a study of another venerable instituti on-the American presidency. Writing at the height of his powers as an intellectual historian, McDonald explores how and why the presidency has evolved into such a complex and pow erful institution, unlike any other in the world. Scores of republics have come into existence during the last two centuries and many have adopted con stitutions similar to our own. But, as McDonald persuasively shows, the Ame rican presidency is unique-no other nation has a leadership position that c ombines the seemingly incongruous roles of ceremonial head of state and chi ef executive magistrate. Lacking an acceptable role model, McDonald explains, the founding fathers constructed their idea of the presidency from sources as diverse as the Bible, Machiavelli, John Locke, the Ancient Greeks and Romans, the laws of England, and the early colonial and state government experiences. So many influences, he suggests, guarantee.