Presidential Leadership and the Creation of the American Era [Hardcover]

This book examines the foreign policy decisions of the presidents who presided over the most critical phases of America's rise to world primacy in the twentieth century, and assesses the effectiveness and ethics of their choices. Joseph Nye, who was ranked as one ofForeign Policymagazines 100 Top Global Thinkers, reveals how some presidents tried with varying success to forge a new international order while others sought to manage Americas existing position. The book shows how transformational presidents like Wilson and Reagan changed how America sees the world, but argues that transactional presidents like Eisenhower and the elder Bush were sometimes more effective and ethical. It also draws important lessons for todays uncertain world, in which presidential decision making is more critical than ever.

Joseph S. Nye, Jr.,is University Distinguished Service Professor and former dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His books includeSoft Power,The Powers to Lead, andThe Future of Power. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy. In this concise and readable study of American presidential foreign policy decisions, Kennedy School of Government professor Nye (The Future of Power) asks, 'To what extent were the men who presided over the creation of the American era simply responding, or were they shaping events?' Nye examines eight administrations, defined as 'transformational' or 'transactional,' and the diverse ways presidents communicate with and inspire the public. He also entices the historically minded with a 'What if?' section that speculates on historical alternatives and provides worthwhile reflections on the uneasy relationship between ethical leadership and effective leadership. Besides risking controversy, his ethical scorecards of presidents--including Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson--illustrate the complexity lC6