Presidents and the American Presidency

Presidents and the American Presidency, Fourth Edition, engages students in the study of the presidency through an exploration of both the political institution and those who have held the office.

Considering both the strengths and the weaknesses of the office, authors Lori Cox Han and Diane J. Heith move beyond purely theoretical analysis to examine the real-life, day-to-day responsibilities and challenges of the presidency. Drawing upon a foundation based on archival documents, historical and contemporary issues, and extensive coverage of methodology, this comprehensive text combines the presidency-centred and president-centred approach to chronicle the evolution of the office. Along with up-to-date presidency research (both qualitative and quantitative), each chapter includes several special sections. Then and Now looks at one key issue using a comparative two-case-study approach with a recent and historical example. InTheir Own Words uses archival documents to allow a president and/or members of their administration to articulate their positions and perspectives--in their own words. Researching the Presidency presents a scholarly debate within the subfield, and Diversifying the Presidency considers both recent progress and future challenges in bringing more diverse representation to the institution of the presidency.

New for the Fourth Edition

• New chapter on the nomination process in a presidential election cycle.
• Fully updated through the 2024 election, including the post-presidency issues and the second presidency of Donald Trump.
• Each chapter includes suggested readings, related web pages, and updated feature boxes that provide additional examples and historical context to the topics discussed.

Fully updated to include the chaotic early days of the second Trump term, this book will appeal to students and scholars of American government, the presidency, leadership studies, and media studies--as well as general readers who quest for a deeper understanding of the politics of the White House.

Lori Cox Han is Professor of Political Science and Doy B. Henley Endowed Chair in American Presidential Studies at Chapman University. Her research and teaching expertise include the presidency, women and politics, media and politics, and political leadership.

Diane J. Heith is Professor of Government and Politics at St. John’s University. She is the author of several works on the presidency, public opinion, campaigns and elections, and the media.