The Presidential Difference: Leadership Style from FDR to Barack Obama - Third Edition

About this book

Fred I. Greenstein has long been one of our keenest observers of the modern presidency. In The Presidential Difference he provides a fascinating and instructive account of the presidential qualities that have served well and poorly in the Oval Office beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelts first hundred days. He surveys each presidents political skill vision cognitive style organizational capacity ability to communicate and emotional intelligence--and argues that the last is the most important in predicting presidential success. Throughout Greenstein offers a series of bottom-line judgments on each of his thirteen subjects as well as an overarching theory of why presidents succeed or fail. In this new edition Greenstein assesses President George W. Bush in the wake of his two terms. The book also includes a new chapter on the leadership style of President Obama and how we can expect it to affect his presidency and legacy.