The Imperial Presidency
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Summary
Set against a broad historical backdrop, the book traces how presidential power evolved from the limited executive function defined by the Constitution into an increasingly dominant "imperial" position in foreign affairs, military matters, and even legislation. Schlesinger argues that this accumulation of power began with the wars and crises of the early twentieth century and peaked during the Cold War. He is especially critical of the secret decision-making and circumvention of Congress by presidents during the Vietnam War, which he saw as undermining the constitutional foundation of the separation of powers. Schlesinger did not oppose strong presidential leadership, but he insisted that presidents exercise power within the framework of constitutional authorization and democratic oversight. He called for restoring the role of Congress, strengthening public accountability over the executive, and preventing the presidential system from degenerating into personal, arbitrary rule.
As a political treatise combining historical depth with contemporary concern, The Imperial Presidency exposes the dangers of an unbalanced executive power and remains an essential work for understanding the American political system and the problem of checks and balances.
Editor's review
The value of the book lies not only in its historical survey but also in the analytical framework it constructs, which remains vital today. The central question the author raises—how to balance executive efficiency with constitutional restraint in times of crisis—is still a core issue of contemporary politics. The Chinese edition, translated by Lin Guorong and Guo Changhui and published by Shanghai Translation Publishing House, preserves the rigor of a scholarly work in fluent language and is well suited to Chinese readers seeking a deeper understanding of the underlying logic of the American political system.
Reading this book gives readers a perspective on the nature of presidential power. Schlesinger does not simply criticize; through detailed historical sources—such as the expansion of war powers, executive privilege, and secrecy—he reveals the complexity of institutional evolution. For readers interested in political institutions, democratic theory, or Sino-American relations, this is a classic work of political commentary that transcends any single time and place and speaks directly to the enduring tensions in modern democratic governance.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- History and political science enthusiasts interested in the American presidency and U.S. political history
- Readers concerned with checks and balances and the evolution of democratic institutions
- Students of politics and public administration seeking to understand the logic of executive power expansion
- Readers who enjoy classic social science works with historical depth and contemporary relevance
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking light entertainment or novelistic narrative
- Readers expecting up-to-date American political commentary or a pure biography
Reading tips
- Readers are advised to begin with the introduction or the translator's preface to understand the historical context in which the book was written (around the Watergate period), which helps in grasping the author's concerns and sense of urgency
- While reading, one may consult the basic outlines of American constitutional history or read books on the roles of Congress and the Supreme Court to form a more three-dimensional picture of checks and balances
- There is no need to rush; the book covers numerous historical events and legal cases, so taking notes to chart the key moments and mechanisms of power expansion can be helpful
About the publisher
Shanghai Translation Publishing House is a Chinese publisher oriented mainly toward translation and publishing. Its publications cover foreign literature, world classics and classic works, as well as social culture, folk literature and classical poetry. The database contains 2,618 titles, including Never Let Me Go, Les Misérables (2 volumes), Don Quixote (illustrated collector's edition), The Complete Comedies of Molière (4 volumes), The Complete Novels of Kafka (3 volumes), The Collected Works of Dostoevsky (9-volume set), Reason and Persons, and Oedipus Rex (Translation Classics). Its author resources include foreign writers such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Victor Hugo, Cervantes and Molière, as well as translators such as Zheng Kelu, Sun Jiameng, Li Jianwu and Zhang Kun. The publisher has brands such as "Translation Classics Selections" and "Translation Documentary," and emphasizes translated works in foreign literature and the humanities and social sciences, while also publishing bilingual dictionaries and foreign-language educational books. Public information is limited; the above is based on the book information in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 总序 小阿瑟·施莱辛格：“见证者历史”的书写者
- 致谢
- 初版导言
- 1973年版前言
- 第一章 国父们的初衷
- 第二章 国父们的分歧
- 第三章 总统战争之崛起
- 第四章 国会东山再起
- 第五章 总统权力复苏：第二次世界大战
- 第六章 总统权力冉冉升起：朝鲜
- 第七章 总统权力肆意横行：越南
- 第八章 革命中的总统制：华盛顿
- 第九章 民主与外交政策
- 第十章 保密机制
- 第十一章 总统制的未来
- 后记 帝王总统之后
FAQ
Does the 'imperial presidency' phenomenon discussed in this book still exist today?
Do I need a lot of prior knowledge of American history to understand this book?
Is the book's stance critical of excessive presidential power?
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About the author
Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. is the author of seven works held in this Chinese-language book collection, though public information about him here is limited. His works focus on American history and politics, with common categories including world history, history readings, general biography, and politics. Representative works include the three volumes of The Age of Roosevelt—The Crisis of the Old Order, 1919–1933; The Coming of the New Deal, 1933–1935; and The Politics of Upheaval, 1935–1936—as well as The Imperial Presidency, The Age of Jackson, The Cycles of American History, and The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society. Judging from these titles and themes, he attends to the evolution of American political institutions, the expansion of presidential power, and the divisions and cycles of society and culture, combining historical narrative with analysis of public issues for readers interested in modern American history and political thought.
Lin Guorong's publicly available information is limited, and his writings mainly center on world history, political history, and philosophical reading. Judging from the seven works in the collection, he attends both to long-term changes in American political history, as seen in The Crisis of the Old Order, 1919–1933: The Age of Roosevelt (I), The Coming of the New Deal, 1933–1935: The Age of Roosevelt (II), The Politics of Upheaval, 1935–1936: The Age of Roosevelt, III, The Imperial Presidency, and The Age of Jackson, and to intellectual history and the interpretation of classics, as in The Tyranny of Greece over Germany: On the Influence of Greek Art and Poetry on the Great German Writers and How to Read Plato. Spanning history, biography, and philosophy, these works reflect an approach that considers political processes, individuals, and intellectual threads together, and they may serve readers interested in American history and intellectual history.
Guo Changhui is an author about whom only limited public information is available; what can be confirmed comes mainly from three works in the library. Judging by these titles, his writing interests center on world history and documentary literature. His representative works, The Imperial Presidency, The Bolivian Diary, and Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War, all deal with political power, revolutionary movements, and first-hand historical records, showing a clear focus on foreign history and reportage. Classified across world history, documentary literature, and foreign literature, these works suggest a balance between historical source value and narrative readability, allowing readers to engage with political change and revolutionary memory in different countries. Since key details such as dates of birth and death, nationality, education, and career remain unknown, a fuller account of his life is not yet possible, and his writing style and scholarly orientation await further material.
