Synopses & Reviews
The Presidential Character: Predicting Performance in the White House, Fourth Edition James David Barber
LONGMAN CLASSICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
In revising classic works in political science, Longman celebrates the contributions its authors and their research have made to the discipline. The Longman Classics in Political Science series honors these authors and their work. Providing students with an updated context, each title in the series includes a new foreword, written by one of today’s top scholars, offering a fresh, in-depth analysis of the book and its enduring contributions.
What should we look for in a president?
This timeless question begs reconsideration in light of today’s crucial presidential election season. To that end, The Presidential Character, James David Barber’s well-known, provocative examination of who has the potential to be voted into the highest office in the land–and why–is being reissued as the newest addition to the Longman Classics in Political Science series.
Arguing that patterns in a person’s character, world view, and political style can allow us to anticipate his or her performance as president, this classic text offers explanations and predictions of the performance of past presidents and presidential candidates.
Features
- Presents a new foreword by presidential scholar George C. Edwards III, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University, that highlights the book’s classic and enduring contributions.
- Includes predictions of presidential performance published before Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush ever served.
- Analyzes the media’s role in providing information about the political candidates and in shaping public opinion of them.
- Draws on historical, biographical, and psychological research to help voters make judicious choices in determining the country’s highest leaders.
- Encourages citizens to be actively involved scholars, critics, and participants in their government.
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Synopsis
Dr. James David Barber’s well-known, provocative examination of who has the potential to be voted into the highest office in the land — and why — is being reissued as the newest addition to the “Longman Classics in Political Science” series.
Arguing that patterns in a person’s character, world view, and style can allow us to anticipate their performance as president, The Presidential Character offers explanations and predictions of the performance of presidents and presidential candidates. Drawing on historical, biographical, and psychological research, Dr. Barber hoped to help voters make judicious choices in determining the country’s highest leaders. Revisiting this classic work in today’s important presidential election season begs a reconsideration of Barber’s probing and enduring query, “What should we look for in a president?"
About the Author
James David Barber was a Duke University political scientist and provocateur best known for exploring the psychology of Oval Office aspirants and occupants. He spent years as a consultant to "NBC Nightly News" and as a board member of the Poynter Institute, a center for the study of journalism and media ethics in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Table of Contents
Foreword by George C. Edwards, III, Texas A&M University
I. PREDICTING PRESIDENTS. 1. Presidential Character and How to Foresee It.
II. THE CONTRADICTIONS OF POWER. 2. Three Tragic Tales.
3. The Active-Negative Presidents.
4. The Origins of Presidential Compulsion.
5. Richard Nixon: Winning Tragedy.
III. OF LOVE AND POLITICAL DUTY. 6. The Passive-Negative Presidents.
7. The Passive-Positive Presidents.
8. Reagan Wrecks Reality.
IV. CONGRUENCE IN CHARACTER. 9. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Active-Positive Affection.
10 Harry S. Truman and Active-Positive Combat.
11. John F. Kennedy and Active-Positive Commitment.
12. The Crucial Ford Transition.
V. BEYOND CHARACTER. 13. President Carter and Negotiation.
14. President Bush and Worldview.
VI. THE THEORY OF PRESIDENTIAL CHARACTER. 15. Adding It Up.