Three of our top presidential scholars have written a new edition of their classic work on the American presidency. This is a magnificent work that provides unique insights into the growth and development of the American presidency, as well as the consequences of such developments in the era of Donald Trump. Edwards, Mayer, and Wayne demonstrate that power, and the presidency’s use of it, is a subject that requires our attention at this pivotal moment in American history.

Richard W. Waterman, University of Kentucky

This indispensable book has been my topmost resource for teaching the U.S. presidency for the last 15 years and counting! For this 13th installment, Edwards, Mayer, and Wayne add essential updates and judicious insights on the latest institutional leadership challenges in presidential politics.

José D. Villalobos, University of Texas at El Paso

Understanding presidential leadership today is as important as it has ever been, particularly in the face of significant challenges to democracy in the United States. Presidential Leadership does an outstanding job of guiding students through the foundational aspects of studying the presidency, while also highlighting important examples to bring those lessons to life. Perhaps the greatest contribution Presidential Leadership makes to the study of the presidency is the delicate balance between historical examples of presidential action that provide rich knowledge and contemporary cases that make the presidency relevant to current students.

Rebecca M. Eissler, San Francisco State University

Presidential Leadership is without a doubt the top textbook on the American presidency. Apart from learning the essential ‘nuts and bolts’ about the executive branch, readers will gain valuable knowledge about how recent presidents have navigated their ‘ships of state’ through the turbulent storms in American politics.

Adam L. Warber, Clemson University

Presidential Leadership is the preeminent guide to the institutional motivations and limitations facing presidents who seek change but upon discovering durable constraints have a humbling choice—revert to bargaining in Washington or face politically punishing policy defeats and the potential of electoral repudiation. The new edition applies this important account of the presidency to new presidents through Joe Biden.

Lawrence R. Jacobs, University of Minnesota