The American Presidency:
Origins and Development, 1776–2021
SIDNEY M. MILKIS and MICHAEL NELSON
Milkis and Nelson explain how developments in technology and media—radio, television, and later the internet—changed the way presidents communicate with citizens. Figures like John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan used TV to project a certain image, while Barack Obama and Donald Trump turned social media into a direct channel for connecting with voters. This constant evolution has raised new questions about presidential power, especially when it comes to things like going to war or using executive orders to bypass Congress.
The book also touches on the role of political parties, showing how presidents manage alliances within their own party and deal with opposition from the other side. Sometimes, intense partisan divides can limit what a president can achieve. The authors note that public opinion is always a major factor: a popular president can push through big changes, while an unpopular one can find themselves stalled.
The American Presidency: Origins and Development, 1776–2021 offers a balanced view: it celebrates moments when presidents used their power to protect the nation or advance important reforms, while also cautioning about times when leaders stretched or abused their authority. By understanding how the presidency has grown and changed, readers can better appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of this unique office, as well as the challenges presidents face in today’s political landscape.
Sidney M. Milkis and Michael Nelson’s The American Presidency: Origins and Development, 1776–2021 provides a detailed look at how the presidency in the United States evolved from the nation’s founding to the modern day. Early on, the Constitution’s writers were careful not to allow too much power in one person’s hands, fearing a return to monarchy. That’s why they created a system of checks and balances, with Congress and the Supreme Court balancing the president’s authority.
Over time, however, different historical moments—such as wars, economic crises, and social upheavals—pushed presidents to take on larger roles. Milkis and Nelson show how Andrew Jackson expanded the president’s connection with ordinary voters, while Abraham Lincoln used the crisis of the Civil War to assert strong executive power. Later, Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson shaped what became known as the “modern presidency” by using media and public speeches to rally public opinion behind their policies.
The book also covers Franklin D. Roosevelt’s massive influence during the Great Depression and World War II, when he created a more active government, passing numerous programs to fix the economy. After Roosevelt, presidents began to rely more on the White House staff and executive agencies to handle the growing responsibilities of the federal government. This meant the presidency became a sort of “hub,” with the White House at the center of decision-making on everything from foreign policy to social programs.
The American Presidency: Origins and Development, 1776–2021
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