The Presidency and the American State: Leadership and Decision Making in the Adams, Grant, and Taft Administrations

Franklin D. Roosevelt's executive leadership style was rooted in the nineteenth-century presidency, which was more developed and interventionist than previously thought. Stephen Rockwell's book explores the presidencies of John Quincy Adams, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Howard Taft, showing how they used state authority, administrative leadership, legislative initiatives, direct executive action, and public communication to impact the lives of millions of Americans and lay the foundations of the American century.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: University of Virginia Press

Although many associate Franklin D. Roosevelt with the inauguration of the robust, dominant American presidency, the roots of his executive leadership style go much deeper. Examining the presidencies of John Quincy Adams, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Howard Taft, Stephen Rockwell traces emerging connections between presidential action and a robust state over the course of the nineteenth century and the Progressive Era. By analyzing these three undervalued presidents savvy deployment of state authority and their use of administrative leadership, legislative initiatives, direct executive action, and public communication, Rockwell makes a compelling case that the nineteenth-century presidency was significantly more developed and interventionist than previously thought. As he shows for a significant number of policy arenas, the actions of Adams, Grant, and Taft touched the lives of millions of Americans and laid the foundations of what would become the American century.

The nineteenth-century presidency was a time of significant change and development in American politics. Prior to this period, the presidency was largely seen as a ceremonial role, with the power of the executive branch limited by the Constitution and the Congress. However, during the Progressive Era, a new wave of reformers and politicians sought to expand the powers of the presidency and make it more responsive to the needs of the American people.

One of the key figures in this movement was John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States. Adams was a strong advocate for the expansion of presidential power and the use of administrative leadership to achieve his goals. He believed that the president should be able to use the executive branch to implement policies that were in the best interests of the American people, regardless of whether they were popular with Congress or the public.

Adams' presidency was marked by a number of significant achievements, including the establishment of the Department of the Navy and the modernization of the American military. He also implemented a number of economic policies that helped to promote growth and prosperity in the United States, including the Tariff of Abominations and the Revenue Act of 1862.

However, Adams' presidency was also marked by controversy and criticism. Some of his policies, such as the Alien and Sedition Acts, were seen as an attempt to suppress political dissent and limit the freedom of speech. Others, such as his support for the Mexican-American War, were seen as an example of American imperialism and aggression.

Despite these criticisms, Adams' presidency was a significant milestone in the development of the American presidency. His use of administrative leadership and his willingness to expand the powers of the presidency set the stage for future presidents to take a more active role in shaping American policy.

Ulysses S. Grant was the eighth president of the United States and one of the most successful and popular presidents in American history. Grant was a military hero who had served in the Union Army during the Civil War and had been appointed as the commanding general of the Union forces in 1864.

Grant's presidency was marked by a number of significant achievements, including the abolition of slavery in the United States and the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. He also implemented a number of economic policies that helped to promote growth and prosperity in the United States, including the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Civil Service Reform Act.

However, Grant's presidency was also marked by controversy and criticism. Some of his policies, such as the Indian Removal Act and the Reconstruction Policy, were seen as an attempt to suppress Native American rights and promote white supremacy in the South. Others, such as his support for the gold standard, were seen as an example of economic instability and inflation.

Despite these criticisms, Grant's presidency was a significant milestone in the development of the American presidency. His use of administrative leadership and his willingness to implement policies that were in the best interests of the American people set the stage for future presidents to take a more active role in shaping American policy.

William Howard Taft was the twenty-seventh president of the United States and one of the most influential and controversial presidents in American history. Taft was a lawyer and judge who had served as the chief justice of the United States before he was elected to the presidency.

Taft's presidency was marked by a number of significant achievements, including the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act. He also implemented a number of economic policies that helped to promote growth and prosperity in the United States, including the Federal Reserve System and the Revenue Act of 1913.

However, Taft's presidency was also marked by controversy and criticism. Some of his policies, such as the Gold Standard Act and the Taft-Hartley Act, were seen as an attempt to promote economic stability and protect American workers, while others, such as his support for the Philippine-American War, were seen as an example of American imperialism and aggression.

Despite these criticisms, Taft's presidency was a significant milestone in the development of the American presidency. His use of administrative leadership and his willingness to implement policies that were in the best interests of the American people set the stage for future presidents to take a more active role in shaping American policy.

In conclusion, the nineteenth-century presidency was a time of significant change and development in American politics. John Quincy Adams, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Howard Taft were three undervalued presidents who used their savvy deployment of state authority
authority and their use of administrative leadership, legislative initiatives, direct executive action, and public communication to lay the foundations of what would become the American century. By analyzing these three presidents' actions, Rockwell makes a compelling case that the nineteenth-century presidency was significantly more developed and interventionist than previously thought. As he shows for a significant number of policy arenas, the actions of Adams, Grant, and Taft touched the lives of millions of Americans and laid the foundations of what would become the American century.

Dimension: 235 x 156 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813950082