From the 60 Minutes correspondent, a deep dive into the history, evolution, and current state of the American presidency--and how we can make the job less impossible and more productive for the future.
John Dickerson looks at the history of the American presidency and how the office is altogether different than the job we discuss during presidential campaigns. In campaigns, the presidency is a magical place where the will of its occupant can move the nation. In reality, the presidency is stretched, burdened, and unmatched for the complexity of the modern world.
With both an historical and contemporary view of the presidency, Dickerson explores how and why the office has expanded and how America''s obsession with the presidency is at odds with its creation and leads to disappointment. Dickerson also charts Donald Trump''s departures from and innovations to the office, developing a picture of where the presidency stands on the eve of the 2020 election and beyond. Armed with an understanding of the office, Dickerson suggests new ways to test candidates, elect presidents thoughtfully, and fix the job so that it more closely can match our expectations.
