Hello.

Welcome to yet another episode of Inside the Cover.

On May 31st, 2024, I finished Presidential Greatness by Marc Landy and Sidney M. Milkis.

This book was published in 2000 by the University Press of Kansas.

It is yet another book that I have moved from shelf to shelf over the years, bu did not get around to reading.

I did get around to reading it and I am glad that I did.

It is now time to go inside the cover.

Presidential Greatness sets forth the authors determinations as to the five greates presidents in American history.

And again, that's up to the year 2000.

Offering explanations, information and opinions as to why these five men, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt are so honored.

In reading this book I learned a lot about each man.

The challenges, successes and failures of their respective presidencies, and the office of of the United States.

For Washington, the authors write, the specter of recent presidents dissipating their authority by involving themselve in too many disparate activities helps us to remember that leadership is as much about what to avoid as it is about what to do.

Washington's greatness stemmed in no small measure from his strong sense of discipline.

He kept a clear sense of his overarching goals and refrained from pursuing important but lesser ones.

For Jefferson, the authors write: Washington led by example.

Jefferson led by words.

He became America's democratic icon because of what he said and what he did not say.

As to Jackson, the authors offer, Taken as a whole, Jackson's presidency displays both an expansion of the presidential office and the imposition of powerful political tools, limiting presidential discretion and enhancing presidential accountability.

How refreshing are the ideas of limiting discretion and enhancing accountability?

The authors are unanimous in their conclusion that Lincoln is our nation's greatest president.

They write, it was the Civil War itself that generated the radical momentum that led to a redefinition of politics and government in the United States.

But Lincoln's words and leadership directed the course of events during the figh for emancipation and the Union.

In this sense, he was a revolutionary statesman, albeit one who sought to preserve rather than abolish the heritage of constitutional government in the United States.

Finally, in reference to FDR, the authors note although Roosevelt did not invent the federal apparat, he was its great apostle.

He preached the acceptance an support of positive government.

One with sufficient administrative capacity to secure for citizens the new rights to whic he told them they were entitled.

Just as significant, he established the modern presidency as the keystone of this new federal establishment.

The presidency as we know it today began with Franklin Roosevelt.

Landy and Milkis also have a chapter on the lack of presidential greatness relative to those who followed FDR.

That would be Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George Bush Sr., and Bill Clinton.

By the way, the authors offered their opinion of these that followed FDR, Reagan was the only other plausible contender for presidential greatness in the post FDR period.

If you are interested in our country, government, politics, partisanship, leadership, history, I suggest that this book is worthy of your time and consideration.

That's our show.

We have reviewed Presidential Greatnes by Marc Landy and Sidney Milkis.

Good night and I look forward to our next visit here on PBS Kansas.

And Inside the Cover.