The New Imperial Presidency: Renewing Presidential Power After WatergateHas the imperial presidency returned? "Well written and, while indispensable for college courses, should appeal beyond academic audiences to anyone interested in how well we govern ourselves. . . . I cannot help regarding it as a grand sequel for my own The Imperial Presidency." ---Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Has the imperial presidency returned? This question has been on the minds of many contemporary political observers, as recent American administrations have aimed to consolidate power. In The New Imperial Presidency, Andrew Rudalevige suggests that the congressional framework meant to advise and constrain presidential conduct since Watergate has slowly eroded. Rudalevige describes the evolution of executive power in our separated system of governance. He discusses the abuse of power that prompted what he calls the "resurgence regime" against the imperial presidency and inquires as to how and why---over the three decades that followed Watergate---presidents have regained their standing. Chief executives have always sought to interpret constitutional powers broadly. The ambitious president can choose from an array of strategies for pushing against congressional authority; finding scant resistance, he will attempt to expand executive control. Rudalevige's important and timely work reminds us that the freedoms secured by our system of checks and balances do not proceed automatically but depend on the exertions of public servants and the citizens they serve. His story confirms the importance of the "living Constitution," a tradition of historical experiences overlaying the text of the Constitution itself. |
Contents
FREEDOM FRIES PRESIDENTIAL POWER I | 1 |
THE FOETUS OF MONARCHY GROWS UP | 19 |
THE OLD IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY | 57 |
THE WORLD AFTER WATERGATE The Resurgence Regime Takes Shape ΙΟΙ | 101 |
THE RESURGENCE RECEDES PART I | 139 |
Peace War | 167 |
TIDAL WAVE The World after September 11 | 211 |
PRACTICAL ADVANTAGES GRAVE DANGERS Imperial Presidency or Invisible Congress? | 261 |
NOTES | 287 |
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action administration agencies Amendment American argued attacks attorney bill billion bombing budget campaign Carter chapter claimed Clinton COINTELPRO Committee Congress congressional Constitution covert debate decision Decline and Resurgence Defense deficit Democratic detainees domestic election enemy combatants executive branch executive order executive power executive privilege federal FISA fiscal Fisher force foreign funds George George H. W. Bush George W gress Guantánamo Bay impeachment Imperial Presidency impoundment independent counsel Intelligence Oversight Act investigation Iraq issue John Johnson Justice Department later legislative memo ment military national security Nixon noted October Office operations Patriot Act political pres presidential power quoted Reagan regime resolution Richard Richard Nixon Rumsfeld Saddam Hussein Schlesinger secrecy Senate September 11 spending staffer Sundquist Supreme Court surveillance terrorism terrorist tion tive troops unilateral United University Press veto Vietnam vote War Powers Resolution Washington Post Watergate York