Product Description

The dramatic and penetrating story of the political maneuverings and personalities behind the creation of the office of the president, with ramifications that continue to this day.

For the first time, by focusing closely on the dynamic give-and-take at the Constitutional Convention, Ray Raphael reveals how politics and personalities cobbled together a lasting, but flawed, executive office. Remarkably, the hero of this saga is Gouverneur Morris, a flamboyant, peg-legged delegate who pushed through his agenda with amazing political savvy, and not a little deceit. Without Morriss perseverance, a much weaker American president would be appointed by Congress, serve for seven years, could not be reelected, and have his powers tightly constrained.

Charting the presidency as it evolved during the administrations of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, Raphael shows how, given the Constitutions broad outlines, the presidents powers could easily be augmented but rarely diminished. Today we see the resultan office that has become more sweeping, more powerful, and more inherently partisan than the framers ever intended. And the issues of 1787whether the Electoral College, the presidents war powers, or the extent of executive authoritycontinue to stir our political debates.