Presidential Difference Leadership Style from FDR to George W Bush

"An excellent book. I support it wholeheartedly."--Dick Cheney, May 3, 2000

"A wonderful book. . . . For journalists, it is a great checklist as to what we ought to be--but probably are not likely to be--looking for in a presidential candidate."--David Broder

"Among the many excellent books on the American presidency, Greenstein's The Presidential Difference will occupy a unique position. Greenstein not only provides succinct descriptions of the person and presidency of every incumbent in the office from FDR to Clinton, but he also presents the reader with highly informed, judicious, shrewd, and entirely nonpartisan judgments about the qualities that have made for success and failure in that demanding office. His descriptions and evaluations make it a book that can be read with profit by everyone who cares about American political life, and, as appears to be the author's intent, particularly by future incoming presidents."--Robert A. Dahl, author of On Democracy

For a quarter-century, Fred I. Greenstein has been one of our keenest observers of the modern presidency. Here, he provides a fascinating and instructive account of the qualities that have served well and poorly in the Oval Office, beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt's first hundred days. Newly expanded, this second edition now covers the momentous events of George W. Bush's administration--from his handling of the events of September 11 to the war with Iraq.

Throughout, Greenstein offers a series of bottom-line judgments on each of his twelve subjects and a bold new explanation of why presidents succeed or fail. He surveys each president's record in public communication, organizational capacity, political skill, vision, cognitive style, and emotional intelligence--and argues that the last is the most important in predicting presidential success.