Bringing together the work of notable historians, political scientists, and sociologists, this text offers a collection of essays that demonstrate the political relevance of first ladies throughout U.S. history and the dramatic expansion of their power during the 20th century. With a preface by Hillary Clinton's former chief of staff, Melanne Verveer, this anthology attempts to fill a gap in scholarship about the position of first lady and reveals the political acumen and activism of a number of the unofficial office holders. The contributors reveal how the office has grown in political influence, from Martha Washington's selection of furnishings for the presidential mansion to Hillary Rodham Clinton's leadership of the President's Task Force on National Health Care Reform. They offer chapters on presidential wives who have changed the nature of the office of first lady and which explore issues that have affected the first ladies' use of the bully pulpit. The book underscores the notion that an understanding of presidential spouses is central to the study of the American presidency. At the same time the volume dispels the myth that Eleanor Roosevelt and her successors have been the only presidential spouses to make significant public and political contributions to the nation.

Product Description: These essays represent attempts to understand presidential foreign policymaking in a new global context. Within the parameters of the metaphorical question our authors analyse the Atoms for Peace and Star Wars proposals of the Eisenhower and Reagan presidencies...read more

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Product Description: With the end of the Cold War, U.S. presidential leadership has become both more important and more difficult. Post-war periods have historically posed challenges to leadership, and this time around the long-time image of the Oleader of the free worldO has declined in the face of globalization and increased interdependence among nations...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This reader provides students with a framework for analysis which traces the debates between the Federalists and Anti-federalists from the time of constitutional ratification to today.

Product Description: Volume XXVII continues the major themes from previous volumes of the series including President as Political Leader, the President and Communication, Organizing Approaches to Policymaking, the President and the International Setting, and the President and Public Philosophy...read more