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The Resource The forgotten presidents : their untold constitutional legacy, Michael J. Gerhardt

The forgotten presidents : their untold constitutional legacy, Michael J. Gerhardt

Creator
Summary
Their names linger in memory mainly as punch lines, synonyms for obscurity: Millard Fillmore, Chester Arthur, Calvin Coolidge. They conjure up not the White House so much as a decaying middle school somewhere in New Jersey. But many forgotten presidents, writes Michael J. Gerhardt, were not weak or ineffective. They boldly fought battles over constitutional principles that resonate today. Constitutional law scholar Michael Gerhardt tells the story of The Forgotten Presidents. He surveys thirteen administrations in chronological order, from Martin Van Buren to Franklin Pierce to Jimmy Carter, distinguishing political failures from their constitutional impact. Again and again, he writes, they defied popular opinion to take strong stands. Martin Van Buren reacted to an economic depression by withdrawing federal funds from state banks in an attempt to establish the controversial independent treasury system. His objective was to shrink the federal role in the economy, but also to consolidate his power to act independently as president. Prosperity did not return, and he left office under the shadow of failure. Grover Cleveland radically changed his approach in his second (non-consecutive) term. Previously he had held back from interference with lawmakers; on his return to office, he aggressively used presidential power to bend Congress to his will. Now seen as an asterisk, Cleveland consolidated presidential authority over appointments, removals, vetoes, foreign affairs, legislation, and more. Jimmy Carter, too, proves surprisingly significant. In two debt-ceiling crises and battles over the Panama Canal treaty, affirmative action, and the First Amendment, he demonstrated how the presidency's inherent capacity for efficiency and energy gives it an advantage in battles with Congress, regardless of popularity. Incisive, myth-shattering, and compellingly written, this book shows how even obscure presidents championed the White House's prerogatives and altered the way we interpret the Constitution
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
xxi, 313 pages
Contents
  • Benjamin Harrison
  • Grover Cleveland (2)
  • William Howard Taft
  • Calvin Coolidge
  • Jimmy Carter
  • Martin Van Buren
  • William Henry Harrison
  • John Tyler
  • Zachary Taylor
  • Millard Fillmore
  • Franklin Pierce
  • Chester Arthur
  • Grover Cleveland (1)
Isbn
9780199967797
Instance
Label
The forgotten presidents : their untold constitutional legacy
Title
The forgotten presidents
Title remainder
their untold constitutional legacy
Statement of responsibility
Michael J. Gerhardt
Creator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
Their names linger in memory mainly as punch lines, synonyms for obscurity: Millard Fillmore, Chester Arthur, Calvin Coolidge. They conjure up not the White House so much as a decaying middle school somewhere in New Jersey. But many forgotten presidents, writes Michael J. Gerhardt, were not weak or ineffective. They boldly fought battles over constitutional principles that resonate today. Constitutional law scholar Michael Gerhardt tells the story of The Forgotten Presidents. He surveys thirteen administrations in chronological order, from Martin Van Buren to Franklin Pierce to Jimmy Carter, distinguishing political failures from their constitutional impact. Again and again, he writes, they defied popular opinion to take strong stands. Martin Van Buren reacted to an economic depression by withdrawing federal funds from state banks in an attempt to establish the controversial independent treasury system. His objective was to shrink the federal role in the economy, but also to consolidate his power to act independently as president. Prosperity did not return, and he left office under the shadow of failure. Grover Cleveland radically changed his approach in his second (non-consecutive) term. Previously he had held back from interference with lawmakers; on his return to office, he aggressively used presidential power to bend Congress to his will. Now seen as an asterisk, Cleveland consolidated presidential authority over appointments, removals, vetoes, foreign affairs, legislation, and more. Jimmy Carter, too, proves surprisingly significant. In two debt-ceiling crises and battles over the Panama Canal treaty, affirmative action, and the First Amendment, he demonstrated how the presidency's inherent capacity for efficiency and energy gives it an advantage in battles with Congress, regardless of popularity. Incisive, myth-shattering, and compellingly written, this book shows how even obscure presidents championed the White House's prerogatives and altered the way we interpret the Constitution
Biography type
contains biographical information
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1956-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Gerhardt, Michael J.
Dewey number
342.73
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
LC call number
KF5051
LC item number
.G47 2013
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Harrison, William Henry
  • Harrison, Benjamin
  • Taft, William H.
  • Presidents
  • Executive power
  • Constitutional history
  • Constitutional history
  • Executive power
  • Politics and government
  • Presidents
  • United States
  • United States
Label
The forgotten presidents : their untold constitutional legacy, Michael J. Gerhardt
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 251-300) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
  • text
  • still image
Content type code
  • txt
  • sti
Content type MARC source
  • rdacontent
  • rdacontent
Contents
  • Benjamin Harrison
  • Grover Cleveland (2)
  • William Howard Taft
  • Calvin Coolidge
  • Jimmy Carter
  • Martin Van Buren
  • William Henry Harrison
  • John Tyler
  • Zachary Taylor
  • Millard Fillmore
  • Franklin Pierce
  • Chester Arthur
  • Grover Cleveland (1)
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
xxi, 313 pages
Isbn
9780199967797
Lccn
2012032612
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
  • (OCoLC)805892436
  • (OCoLC)ocn805892436
Label
The forgotten presidents : their untold constitutional legacy, Michael J. Gerhardt
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 251-300) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
  • text
  • still image
Content type code
  • txt
  • sti
Content type MARC source
  • rdacontent
  • rdacontent
Contents
  • Benjamin Harrison
  • Grover Cleveland (2)
  • William Howard Taft
  • Calvin Coolidge
  • Jimmy Carter
  • Martin Van Buren
  • William Henry Harrison
  • John Tyler
  • Zachary Taylor
  • Millard Fillmore
  • Franklin Pierce
  • Chester Arthur
  • Grover Cleveland (1)
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
xxi, 313 pages
Isbn
9780199967797
Lccn
2012032612
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
  • (OCoLC)805892436
  • (OCoLC)ocn805892436

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