Presidents and Political Thought

by David J. Siemers

Overview

“What did the president know and when did he know it?” takes on a whole new meaning in Presidents and Political Thought. Though political philosophy is sometimes considered to be dry and abstract, many of our presidents have found usable ideas embedded within it. In this first comparative study of presidents and political theory, David Siemers examines how some of them have applied this specialized knowledge to their job.   Presidents and Political Thought explores the connection between philosophy and practical politics through a study of six American chief executives: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton. Writing at the intersection of politics, history, and philosophy, Siemers combines his extensive understanding of political philosophy with careful research and analysis of individual presidents to produce provocative and astute judgments about how their understanding of political theory affected their performance.   Each chapter examines a particular president’s attitude about political theory, the political theorists he read and admired, and the ways in which he applied theory in his activities as president. Viewing presidents through the lens of political theory enables Siemers to conclude that Madison and Adams have been significantly underrated. Wilson is thought to have abandoned his theoretical viewpoint as president, but actually, he just possessed an unorthodox interpretation of his favorite thinker, Edmund Burke. Often thought to be so pragmatic or opportunistic that they lacked any convictions, FDR and Clinton gained their orientations to politics from political theory. These and other insights suggest that we cannot understand these presidencies without being more aware of the ideas the presidents brought to the office.   Siemers’s study takes on special relevance as the United States experiences regime change and a possible party realignment because, as he notes, Barack Obama has read and learned from political theory, too.   Avoiding much of the jargon that often accompanies political theory, this book demonstrates the relevance of political theory in the real world, chronicling both the challenges and potentially rich payoffs when presidents conceive of politics not just as a way to reward friends and punish enemies, but as a means to realize principles.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826272058
Publisher:	University of Missouri Press
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	264
File size:	719 KB

About the Author

David J. Siemers is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh and author of The Antifederalists: Men of Great Faith and Forbearance and Ratifying the Republic: Antifederalists and Federalists in Constitutional Time.

Table of Contents

Contents Preface: What We Really Should Know about Barack Obama Acknowledgments 1. On Presidents and Ideas 2. John Adams: Defense of the Mixed Constitution 3. Thomas Jefferson: Notes from a Prophet of Progress 4. James Madison: Political Theory Must Be Made to Counteract Political Theory 5. Woodrow Wilson: Keeping the World Safe from Philosophy 6. Franklin Delano Roosevelt: A First-Class Trimmer 7. Bill Clinton: Flirtation with the Social Contract Conclusion: Dear Mr. President Notes Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

Applying his own finely honed understanding of the utility of theory for performance, David J. Siemers analyzes three presidents from the founding era (Adams, Jefferson, and Madison) and three from the twentieth century (Wilson, FDR, and Clinton). The results make fascinating reading for students of the presidency as Siemers portrays the role of political theory in presidential management of events (providing a bonus rendering on Obama).”—Charles O. Jones, author of The American Presidency: A Very Short Introduction

 “This is an excellent book, one that deserves a place on the bookshelves not only of political theorists and presidency scholars, but also of the informed public.”—Paul Schumaker, author of Critical Pluralism, Democratic Performance, and Community Power 

 “Presidents and Political Thought makes a significant contribution to the history of American political thought, to our understanding of presidential leadership, and to our understanding of the relation between political theory and political practice.”—James H. Read, author of Power versus Liberty: Madison, Hamilton, Wilson, and Jefferson

From the Publisher