Comparing Imperial Presidency by Arthur Schlesinger and Presidental Power by Richard Neustadt :: Arthur Schlesinger Imperial Presidency

Comparing Imperial Presidency by Arthur Schlesinger and Presidental Power by Richard NeustadtIn his book, The Imperial Presidency, Arthur Schlesinger recounts therise of the g all overnment activity as it grew into the imperial, powerful prepare that itis today. His writing reflects a belief that the presidency is becoming toopowerful and that very few people are making a real causal agency to stop it. Heanalyzes the back and forth struggle for power between Congress and thePresidency. Schlesinger breaks up the first half of the book chronologically. Hebegins by discussing the areas concerning the presidency where the foundingfathers agreed and also the areas where they disagreed. He then goes on toanalyze the rise of the imperial presidency through war and recovery, withemphasis on the events of the ordinal century. After the war in Vietnam,Schlesinger divides the book based on the specific nature of the events that hadan impact on presidential power. He divides it based on dom esticated policy, foreignpolicy, and the affairs that go on in secrecy.Schlesinger provides an incredible amount of evidence to recount the upsand downs of the imperial presidency. He provides a base for his argument withan in-depth moot of what the framers intended and how they set the stage fordevelopment over the next two centuries. An issue that Schlesinger focuses on isthe presidents ability to make war. The decisions of the founders in this areawould have a huge impact on the power contained in the office of the president.The consensus amongst the framers was that the president, as Commander in Chief,had the ability to defend the unify States and its interests, but the abilityto halt war was vested in the Congress. This decision set the stage for thestruggles between the president and congress. He also discussed the debate overthe power institutionalized in the presidency. At the time, there were twoschools of thought on the subject. Hamilton supported an active president, whileJefferson argued in favor of a passive president. The final draft included acompromise of the two theories. There was also some debate over the power of thepresident versus the power of congress. Additionally, there was a compromisemade over this issue when writing the final draft. The spirit of compromiseamongst the founders was what provided a viable and secure base for the futureof the presidency.After his discussion of the founders, Schlesinger shifts to thepresidents powers of war. He analyzes every war, excluding the Revolution, thatthe United States has participated in up to and including the war in Vietnam.