The Presidential Leadership Dilemma — Between the Constitution and a Political Party

Examines how the president balances the competing demands of leading his political party and leading the nation.

Throughout their time in office, American presidents are often forced to choose between leading the nation and leading their party. In an earlier time when the major parties were less polarized, this leadership dilemma, while challenging, was not nearly as vexing as it is today. American presidents now find themselves with little room to maneuver, compelled to serve the Constitution on the one hand and yet caught within bitter partisan disputes and large numbers of unaffiliated voters on the other. The contributors to this volume investigate how recent presidents have navigated these increasingly rocky political waters. Focusing on campaign strategy, presidential rhetoric, relations with Congress, domestic and foreign policy, The Presidential Leadership Dilemma presents a wide-ranging, detailed, and fascinating study of how contemporary presidents face the challenge at the heart of every presidency.

Julia R. Azari is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Marquette University.

Lara M. Brown is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Villanova University and the author of Jockeying for the American Presidency: The Political Opportunism of Aspirants.

Zim G. Nwokora is Post-Doctoral Fellow in Politics at the Centre for Governance and Public Policy at Griffith University in Australia.