William G. Howell is the Sydney Stein Professor in American Politics at the University of Chicago, where he holds appointments in the Harris School of Public Policy, the Department of Political Science, and the College. His books include While Dangers Gather and Power without Persuasion (both Princeton), as well as The Wartime President. David Milton Brent is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science at Yale University.

• Preface ix Acknowledgments xv Chapter 1. On Being President 1 Chapter 2. Bearing Witness 20 Chapter 3. Constitutional Foundations 55 Chapter 4. Contrasting Conceptions of Executive Leadership 71 Chapter 5. Misguided Entreaties 92 Chapter 6. What Failure Looks Like 106 Chapter 7. Limits 128 Appendix: Article II of the U.S. Constitution 145 Notes 149 Suggested Readings 169 Index 173

"Thinking about the Presidency is a relatively brief book which would do well in any survey-level course on executive leadership or the structure of American government... By looking at the presidency through the lens of expanding presidential power, Howell and Brent left this reader asking for more: such as why government works this way or why Congress reacts as it does. That it leaves open those questions indicates that this book is a valuable addition to any graduate-level course."--Seth Offenbach, Journal of American Studies

William G. Howell is the Sydney Stein Professor in American Politics at the University of Chicago, where he holds appointments in the Harris School of Public Policy, the Department of Political Science, and the College. His books include While Dangers Gather and Power without Persuasion (both Princeton), as well as The Wartime President. David Milton Brent is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science at Yale University.

• Preface ix Acknowledgments xv Chapter 1. On Being President 1 Chapter 2. Bearing Witness 20 Chapter 3. Constitutional Foundations 55 Chapter 4. Contrasting Conceptions of Executive Leadership 71 Chapter 5. Misguided Entreaties 92 Chapter 6. What Failure Looks Like 106 Chapter 7. Limits 128 Appendix: Article II of the U.S. Constitution 145 Notes 149 Suggested Readings 169 Index 173

"Thinking about the Presidency is a relatively brief book which would do well in any survey-level course on executive leadership or the structure of American government... By looking at the presidency through the lens of expanding presidential power, Howell and Brent left this reader asking for more: such as why government works this way or why Congress reacts as it does. That it leaves open those questions indicates that this book is a valuable addition to any graduate-level course."--Seth Offenbach, Journal of American Studies

William G. Howell is the Sydney Stein Professor in American Politics at the University of Chicago, where he holds appointments in the Harris School of Public Policy, the Department of Political Science, and the College. His books include While Dangers Gather and Power without Persuasion (both Princeton), as well as The Wartime President. David Milton Brent is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science at Yale University.

• Preface ix Acknowledgments xv Chapter 1. On Being President 1 Chapter 2. Bearing Witness 20 Chapter 3. Constitutional Foundations 55 Chapter 4. Contrasting Conceptions of Executive Leadership 71 Chapter 5. Misguided Entreaties 92 Chapter 6. What Failure Looks Like 106 Chapter 7. Limits 128 Appendix: Article II of the U.S. Constitution 145 Notes 149 Suggested Readings 169 Index 173

"Thinking about the Presidency is a relatively brief book which would do well in any survey-level course on executive leadership or the structure of American government... By looking at the presidency through the lens of expanding presidential power, Howell and Brent left this reader asking for more: such as why government works this way or why Congress reacts as it does. That it leaves open those questions indicates that this book is a valuable addition to any graduate-level course."--Seth Offenbach, Journal of American Studies