David Contosta is Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at Chestnut Hill College, USA.

Renowned scholar David Contosta pens a work of bravery for the times: a historical account of abuses of power by the President of the United States, which he argues mimics a monarchy in its present form, manifesting the Founders’ worst fears. This thought-provoking and salient book accounts for various ways that executive power is exploited and in turn, result in inevitabilities that pose an existential threat to American democracy.

• Preface and AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Promise and Perils1: Republic or Monarchy: The Presidency and the Constitution2: Demi-God and Dissenter: Formative Presidential Styles3: Old Hickory and the Great Emancipator: Power for Evil and Good4: Power and Reform: The Progressive Presidency5: Fighting Depression and War: From New Deal to Global Power6: Social and Racial Justice: Reaching for the Promises of American Life7: Deception and War: America’s Needless Wars8: Image and Celebrity: “It’s What People Think You Are”9: Impeachment and Resentment: Formations of Presidential Character10: President or Autocrat: The Survival of American Democracy11: An American Monarchy: Premonitions and ReformsBibliography IndexAbout the Author

David Contosta is Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at Chestnut Hill College, USA.

Renowned scholar David Contosta pens a work of bravery for the times: a historical account of abuses of power by the President of the United States, which he argues mimics a monarchy in its present form, manifesting the Founders’ worst fears. This thought-provoking and salient book accounts for various ways that executive power is exploited and in turn, result in inevitabilities that pose an existential threat to American democracy.

• Preface and AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Promise and Perils1: Republic or Monarchy: The Presidency and the Constitution2: Demi-God and Dissenter: Formative Presidential Styles3: Old Hickory and the Great Emancipator: Power for Evil and Good4: Power and Reform: The Progressive Presidency5: Fighting Depression and War: From New Deal to Global Power6: Social and Racial Justice: Reaching for the Promises of American Life7: Deception and War: America’s Needless Wars8: Image and Celebrity: “It’s What People Think You Are”9: Impeachment and Resentment: Formations of Presidential Character10: President or Autocrat: The Survival of American Democracy11: An American Monarchy: Premonitions and ReformsBibliography IndexAbout the Author

David Contosta is Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at Chestnut Hill College, USA.

Renowned scholar David Contosta pens a work of bravery for the times: a historical account of abuses of power by the President of the United States, which he argues mimics a monarchy in its present form, manifesting the Founders’ worst fears. This thought-provoking and salient book accounts for various ways that executive power is exploited and in turn, result in inevitabilities that pose an existential threat to American democracy.

• Preface and AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Promise and Perils1: Republic or Monarchy: The Presidency and the Constitution2: Demi-God and Dissenter: Formative Presidential Styles3: Old Hickory and the Great Emancipator: Power for Evil and Good4: Power and Reform: The Progressive Presidency5: Fighting Depression and War: From New Deal to Global Power6: Social and Racial Justice: Reaching for the Promises of American Life7: Deception and War: America’s Needless Wars8: Image and Celebrity: “It’s What People Think You Are”9: Impeachment and Resentment: Formations of Presidential Character10: President or Autocrat: The Survival of American Democracy11: An American Monarchy: Premonitions and ReformsBibliography IndexAbout the Author