Making the Managerial Presidency
Comprehensive Reorganization Planning, 1905-1996
Second Edition, Revised
Peri E. Arnold
456 pages, 6 x 9
Studies in Government and Public Policy
Paper ISBN 978-0-7006-0894-2, $25.00
WINNER OF THE LOUIS BROWNLOW AWARD
In 1987 the National Academy of
Public Administration bestowed upon Peri Arnold the prestigious
Louis Brownlow Award for Making the Managerial Presidency.
Since then, his book has acquired the status of a classic in
the fields of both public administration and the presidency.
With the publication of this revised and expanded edition, Arnold
now provides a comprehensive history of presidential reorganization
planning for the entire twentieth-century from Theodore Roosevelt
through Bill Clinton.
Frequently cited by scholars, the first edition drew praise
from many quarters. The Political Science Quarterly called
it "definitive." The American Political Science
Review declared it "required reading . . . for students
of American politics." And Alonzo Hamby, writing in the
American Historical Review, praised it as "a substantial
contribution to the history of the American presidency."
While the previous edition essentially stopped at the Carter
administration, the new edition includes a broad treatment of
administrative reform initiatives since 1981, including Ronald
Reagan's Grace Commission and Bill Clinton's National Performance
Review. Arnold shows how the search for administrative efficiency
during the past two decades further underscores the century-long
efforts of presidents to consolidate and expand their roles and
powers within American government.
Arnold's incisive and insightful study of the National Performance
Review is especially timely and instructive. Reflecting and extending
the recent literature on "the isolated presidency,"
his critique of Clinton's reorganization efforts reveals the
president's increasing reliance on rhetorical and campaign-like
strategies as a means to sustain popular support and expand his
administrative power.
Most important, the new edition is available (for the first
time) in paperback, thus making it ideal for use in courses on
the presidency, American government, and public administration.
"This important book merits a wide audience."--American
Political Science Review
"The definitive analytical history of comprehensive reorganization
planning of the national executive branch."--Political
Science Quarterly
"An ambitious book that examines the presidency's attempts
to fulfill the managerial demands created by the emergence of
the modern administrative state. A substantial contribution."--American
Historical Review
"An important presentation of historical evidence, intelligently
set forth. A genuine contribution to the literatures on the presidency,
the executive branch, and the history of American political institutions."--Fred
Greenstein, author of The Hidden Hand Presidency
"Students of American politics will find Arnold's perceptive
account of the quest for 'a managerially effective presidency'
required reading."--Canadian Review of American Studies
"A 'must' for those interested in the presidency. This book
is virtually definitive on its topic."--History
"The managerial presidency, Arnold concludes, can become
'a trap, offering increased capacity . . . but creating even
greater expectations about presidential performance.' A persuasive
and cogent conclusion to this excellent study."--American
Historical Review
PERI E. ARNOLD, professor of government and director
of the Hesburgh Program for Public Service at Notre Dame University,
received the National Academy of Public Administration's prestigious
Louis Brownlow Award for this book.
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