Clinton Rossiter\'s the American Presidency

¶ … Clinton Rossiter's the American Presidency

Rossiter's account of the American Presidency as an institution as well as a position of much political and social appeal is quite comprehensive and insightful. The book was written at a time when the title of President of the United States tended to exact a bit more respect and faith than the title now requires from those who criticize and even demonize the office. It is interesting to note that Rossiter's account of influence and responsibility covers the responsibilities of many other sovereign nations' leaders as well as some that are very unique to the American experience.

In the beginning of his book, Rossiter gives the reader an idea of the vast social and political responsibilities that the President has. He describes these on page 2 and 3 by stating,

"First, the President if Chief of State. He remains today, as he always has been, the ceremonial head of the government of the United States, and he must take part with real or apparent enthusiasm in a range of activities that would keep him running and posing from sunrise to bedtime if he were not protected by a cold-blooded staff. Some of these activities are solemn or even priestly in nature; others, through no fault of his own, are flirtations with vulgarity. The long catalogue of public duties that the Queen discharges in England, the President of the Republic in France, and the Governor-General in Canada is the President's responsibility in this country, and the catalogue is even longer because he is not a king, or even the agent of one, and is therefore expected to go through some rather undignified paces by a people who think of him as a combination of scoutmaster, Delphic oracle, hero of the silver screen, and father of the multitudes."

Rossiter's eloquent words capture both the vagueness and specificity that the President is forced to work within, while still cataloguing the responsibilities that he has. The President and his duties are far more complex than many Americans realize, and Rossiter begins the book by unfolding those many duties for the reader to see and examine. It is with wonder that the author, so close to the beginning of the book, can positively paint a picture so vivid and patriotically of the head of the United States government.

The changing nature of the United States both politically and socially makes it difficult for any author to try and accomplish a comprehensive analysis of the position of President, and this fact makes it even harder to pin down the exact meaning of the position to the country at large. This shifting foundation of political ideology and foreign policy is something that also creates some friction internationally, as Rossiter points out. Many other countries have viewed America as a rather schizophrenic nation, and since the office of President changes every 4 or 8 years, it is no wonder that many foreigners are puzzled by the seemingly baseless changes in American policy abroad. This frustration with the lack of continuity is often what Americans are most proud of, at least when it comes to their own foreign policy opinions. Rossiter is quick to point out that Americans, being so used to a changing of the guard every few years, rather expect to be a part of the civil discourse after the election of a fresh governmental figurehead.

It is interesting that the author is able to point out many of the same problems with presidential succession and selection that existed in 1960 that exist today. Americans at large often grow impatient with the system of using the Electoral College to decide the presidency, instead of the popular vote. And Rossiter wryly and quite intelligently points out that voices of dissent, from all sides of all arguments are quick to blame the figurehead for the ills that have affected the nation at one time or another. Rossiter had no idea when writing his book that the current president at the time the book was published, John F. Kennedy, would be gunned down in Dallas only a few years later. Yet he insightfully points out that the president, in every historical era, has to deal with the lunatic fringes as well as the most well structured verbal and political offensive. Rossiter writes, "The American Presidency is not universally admired. Most of us may think of it as a choice instrument of constitutional government, but there are loud dissenters in this country, especially in deep right field, and sharp dissenters abroad, especially in those happy lands where the parliamentary system is counted a success. If the opinions of the former are generally too mixed up with politics to demand serious attentions, the opinion of the latter deserve a hearing and rebuttal."

The assassination of John Kennedy and the right wing fervor over the current president's actions and policy tie well together using the framework that Rossiter employs to examine the dissent that exists within the American public at any point in history.

The idea that politically, many of the governing bodies will be at odds with each other, and that this is a healthy sign in a democratic nation is often misunderstood by other authors and citizens. Rossiter's assertion that "antagonism is built into the system" (Rossiter, 36) also shows a deeper level of understanding of the office of President as well as the democratic system as a whole. The theme of conflict and argument bearing many positive fruits tends to run throughput Rossiter's book, and his own explanation of the duties and responsibilities of the President, no matter how comprehensive, still help the reader to understand that within the synchronicity of the system lies a built in battle between competing ideas and ideals.

No discussion of the Presidency and the powers that come with that position would be complete without also discussing the limitations of the office. Rossiter spends an adequate amount of time discussing these limitations in the second chapter of his book. The transition from the idea that the U.S. government was set up to be a model of checks and balances flows and segues well into the argument that with the roles and responsibilities of President, there are also quite a few limitations that were directly and intentionally imposed upon the office to keep the President's power in check. Rossiter also provides a very insightful annotated examination of the constitution and the powers that keep the president in check. It is very rare to see such a brilliant and comprehensive commentary relative to how the inner workings of the U.S. government exact their influence upon the President, but Rossiter certainly is able to provide this in the latter chapters of his book.