Samuel Kernell – författare

Partisan conflict between the White House and Congress is now a dominant feature of national politics in the United States. What the Constitution sought to institute—a system of checks and balances—divided government has taken to extremes: institutional divisions so deep that national challenges like balancing the federal budget or effectively regulating the nation's savings and loans have become insurmountable. In original essays written especially for this volume, eight of the leading scholars in American government address the causes and consequences of divided party control. Their essays, written with a student audience in mind, take up such timely questions as: Why do voters consistently elect Republican presidents and Democratic congresses? How does divided control shape national policy on crucial issues such as the declaration of war? How have presidents adapted their leadership strategies to the circumstance of divided government? And, how has Congress responded in the way it writes laws and oversees departmental performance? These issues and a host of others are addressed in this compact yet comprehensive volume. The distinguished lineup of contributors promises to make this book "must" reading for both novice and serious students of elections, Congress, and the presidency.

Partisan conflict between the White House and Congress is now a dominant feature of national politics in the United States. What the Constitution sought to institute—a system of checks and balances—divided government has taken to extremes: institutional divisions so deep that national challenges like balancing the federal budget or effectively regulating the nation's savings and loans have become insurmountable. In original essays written especially for this volume, eight of the leading scholars in American government address the causes and consequences of divided party control. Their essays, written with a student audience in mind, take up such timely questions as: Why do voters consistently elect Republican presidents and Democratic congresses? How does divided control shape national policy on crucial issues such as the declaration of war? How have presidents adapted their leadership strategies to the circumstance of divided government? And, how has Congress responded in the way it writes laws and oversees departmental performance? These issues and a host of others are addressed in this compact yet comprehensive volume. The distinguished lineup of contributors promises to make this book "must" reading for both novice and serious students of elections, Congress, and the presidency.

This book, Chief of Staff: Twenty-Five Years of Managing the Presidency, provides a unique exploration of the inner workings of the White House, offering both anecdotes and professional insights into the role of senior aides who have shaped the presidency over the past quarter-century. From Eisenhower to Carter, the perspectives of eight former chiefs of staff reveal a shared sense of professionalism that transcends administrations and political affiliations. These senior aides, though not always starting as seasoned professionals, emerge from their tenure deeply transformed by a shared sense of duty and adherence to a set of unspoken rules that define their roles. Their reflections offer a glimpse into the demands and pressures of managing the presidency, showcasing a professionalism that has shaped modern White House operations. The book, which combines lively discussions and personal anecdotes, serves as a primer for aspiring White House staff and an insightful narrative for the general reader about the evolution of presidential management.Through a televised symposium and roundtable discussions moderated by John Chancellor, the participants recount their experiences, shedding light on key moments in U.S. history from 1953 to 1981. They discuss the unique dynamics of their roles, including their relationship with the president, the intricacies of policy and politics, and the challenges of navigating crises like Vietnam and Watergate. The discussions highlight the centrality of the chief of staff role, a position that has grown in importance as the White House staff expanded and assumed greater control over administrative and policy matters. Reflecting on their time in the West Wing, the participants underscore the indispensable balance of loyalty, discretion, and leadership required to support the president effectively. By documenting these perspectives, the book not only captures the pivotal role of the chief of staff in modern governance but also offers timeless lessons for anyone entrusted with managing power and influence at the highest levels.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1986.

This book, Chief of Staff: Twenty-Five Years of Managing the Presidency, provides a unique exploration of the inner workings of the White House, offering both anecdotes and professional insights into the role of senior aides who have shaped the presidency over the past quarter-century. From Eisenhower to Carter, the perspectives of eight former chiefs of staff reveal a shared sense of professionalism that transcends administrations and political affiliations. These senior aides, though not always starting as seasoned professionals, emerge from their tenure deeply transformed by a shared sense of duty and adherence to a set of unspoken rules that define their roles. Their reflections offer a glimpse into the demands and pressures of managing the presidency, showcasing a professionalism that has shaped modern White House operations. The book, which combines lively discussions and personal anecdotes, serves as a primer for aspiring White House staff and an insightful narrative for the general reader about the evolution of presidential management.Through a televised symposium and roundtable discussions moderated by John Chancellor, the participants recount their experiences, shedding light on key moments in U.S. history from 1953 to 1981. They discuss the unique dynamics of their roles, including their relationship with the president, the intricacies of policy and politics, and the challenges of navigating crises like Vietnam and Watergate. The discussions highlight the centrality of the chief of staff role, a position that has grown in importance as the White House staff expanded and assumed greater control over administrative and policy matters. Reflecting on their time in the West Wing, the participants underscore the indispensable balance of loyalty, discretion, and leadership required to support the president effectively. By documenting these perspectives, the book not only captures the pivotal role of the chief of staff in modern governance but also offers timeless lessons for anyone entrusted with managing power and influence at the highest levels.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1986.

In recent years, the study of James Madison and his contributions to early American politics has enjoyed a growing audience among scholars and students of modern American politics. Not only did Madison establish the fundamental American concept of pluralism, his appreciation of the logic of institutional design as a key to successful democratic reform still influences modern theory and research.This book evaluates the legacy of James Madison as the product of a scholarly politician—a politician who thought carefully about institutions in the context of action. It brings together thoughtful responses to Madison and his theory from a broad cross-section of modern political science, and views Madison not as an icon or mouthpiece of an era, but as a "modern" political scientist who was able to implement many of his theoretical ideas in a practical forum.

In recent years, the study of James Madison and his contributions to early American politics has enjoyed a growing audience among scholars and students of modern American politics. Not only did Madison establish the fundamental American concept of pluralism, his appreciation of the logic of institutional design as a key to successful democratic reform still influences modern theory and research.This book evaluates the legacy of James Madison as the product of a scholarly politician—a politician who thought carefully about institutions in the context of action. It brings together thoughtful responses to Madison and his theory from a broad cross-section of modern political science, and views Madison not as an icon or mouthpiece of an era, but as a "modern" political scientist who was able to implement many of his theoretical ideas in a practical forum.

While much has been written about economic competition between the United States and Japan, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that their relationship is founded essentially on each sides' domestic political concerns. Many critics have concluded that to gain a new equilibrium in relations, the two counties must develop a sophisticated appreciation of each other's political dynamics. Because budgets, taxes and macroeconomic policy are so central to activities of both governments, this book, by Japanese and American experts, focuses on the role of political institutions in formulating economic policy. Despite the differences in the two counties political systems—one-party/parliamentary versus two-party/presidential—there are striking similarities in the way politics is transacted in Japan and the United States. In particular, politicians in both countries are motivated primarily by the desire to serve local constituencies, which leads to overly parochial public policies. Combining case studies and discussions, the contributors provide an overview of the Japanese and American political systems, particularly those aspects that are most relevant to economic policymaking. In addition, they offer a comparative analysis of the politics of budgeting, tax reform, and structural policies

This book explores the fascinating and puzzling world of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American elections. It examines the strategic behavior of nineteenth-century party politicians and shows how their search for electoral victory led them to invent a number of remarkable campaign practices. Why were parties dedicated to massive voter mobilization? Why did presidential nominees wage front-porch campaigns? Why did officeholders across the country tie their electoral fortunes to the popularity of presidential candidates at the top of the ticket? Erik J. Engstrom and Samuel Kernell demonstrate that the defining features of nineteenth-century electoral politics were the product of institutions in the states that prescribed how votes were cast and how those votes were converted into political offices. Relying on a century's worth of original data, this book uncovers the forces propelling the nineteenth-century electoral system, its transformation at the end of the nineteenth century, and the implications of that transformation for modern American politics.