Presidential Accountability: New and Recurring Problems

(Hardback)

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This book assesses the state of presidential accountability in the post-Reagan era. It looks at five major areas of concern for students of the presidency. These problem areas concern (1.) presidents, national security, and civil liberties; (2.) controlling the intelligence community; (3.) the politized nature of the Justice Department; (4.) celebrity politics and symbolic manipulation; and (5.) the popularity of the Reagan administration and its implications for accountability. The research concludes that in the post- modern presidency, we have lost the desire and power to keep presidents accountable for their actions. After discussing the problem of presidential accountability in the opening chapter, the book turns to the checkered pasts of American presidents with respect to protecting civil liberties. It then examines the problems of presidential accountability that are posed by the intelligence community. Next, it looks at the exercises of the president's discretionary power in the criminal justice policy arena. The newer phenomenon of Celebrity Politics is explored next in terms of the consequences it has on citizens who want to keep the American president in check. Following this, the lessons of the popular Reagan presidency on presidential accountability are outlined. Finally, it concludes by lamenting the loss of presidential accountability in the American political system. This book should appeal to presidential researchers and anyone interested in the American presidency.

Reviews

Orman addresses a perennial issue of the US democratic republic: whether presidents are properly held accountable for their actions. The author maintains that presidents are not held sufficiently accountable and that individual liberties suffer as a result. He cites evidence of presidents (particularly Nixon and Reagan) who engaged in secretive and deceptive actions and argues that citizens should be aware of and very concerned about this problem. Individual chapters address such topics as national security policy, intelligence activities, criminal justice and presidential discretion, political symbolism and public relations, and Reagan's Imperial Presidency'. . . . He raises interesting and important questions . . .-Choice
The new book, Presidential Accountability: New and Recurring Problems, by John Orman, assesses the state of presidential accountability in the Reagan era. He concludes that as the 1990s begin the American political system has lost the desire and power to keep presidents accountable for their actions. He ends with a plea that we need to be more vigilant during the 1990s to keep check on runaway presidential behavior.-Government and Politics Alert
"The new book, Presidential Accountability: New and Recurring Problems, by John Orman, assesses the state of presidential accountability in the Reagan era. He concludes that as the 1990s begin the American political system has lost the desire and power to keep presidents accountable for their actions. He ends with a plea that we need to be more vigilant during the 1990s to keep check on runaway presidential behavior."-Government and Politics Alert
"Orman addresses a perennial issue of the US democratic republic: whether presidents are properly held accountable for their actions. The author maintains that presidents are not held sufficiently accountable and that individual liberties suffer as a result. He cites evidence of presidents (particularly Nixon and Reagan) who engaged in secretive and deceptive actions and argues that citizens should be aware of and very concerned about this problem. Individual chapters address such topics as national security policy, intelligence activities, criminal justice and presidential discretion, political symbolism and public relations, and Reagan's Imperial Presidency'. . . . He raises interesting and important questions . . ."-Choice

Author Bio

JOHN ORMAN is a Professor in the Political Science Department at Fairfield University. He is the author of Comparing Presidential Behavior (Greenwood Press 1987), Presidential Secrecy and Deception (Greenwood Press 1980), and The Politics of Rock Music.