"Mr. President" : George Washington and the making of the nation's highest office

The Resource "Mr. President" : George Washington and the making of the nation's highest office
Label
"Mr. President" : George Washington and the making of the nation's highest office
Title remainder
George Washington and the making of the nation's highest office
Statement of responsibility
Harlow Giles Unger
Creator
Contributor
Author
Narrator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
Although the framers gave the president little authority, Washington knew whatever he did would set precedents for generations of his successors. To ensure their ability to defend the nation, he simply ignored the Constitution when he thought it necessary and reshaped the presidency into what James Madison called a 'monarchical presidency.' Modern scholars call it the 'imperial presidency.' A revealing new look at the birth of American government, 'Mr. President' describes George Washington's assumption of office in a time of continual crisis, as riots, rebellion, internecine warfare, and attacks by foreign enemies threatened to destroy the new nation. Drawing on rare documents and letters, Unger shows how Washington combined political cunning, daring, and sheer genius to seize ever-widening powers to solve each crisis. In a series of brilliant but unconstitutional maneuvers, Washington forced Congress to cede control of the four pillars of executive power: war, finance, foreign affairs, and law enforcement. Then, in the absence of Congress, he sent troops to fight Indian wars, crush tax revolts, and put down threats of secession by three states.Constantly weighing preservation of the Union against preservation of individual liberties and states' rights, Washington assumed more power with each crisis. Often only a breath away from reestablishing the tyranny he pledged to destroy in the Revolutionary War, he imposed law and order across the land while ensuring individual freedom and self-government
Accompanying matter
technical information on music
Cataloging source
N$T
Dewey number
973.4/1092
Form of composition
not applicable
Format of music
not applicable
LC call number
E311
LC item number
.U54 2013
Literary text for sound recordings
  • biography
  • history
Music parts
not applicable
PerformerNote
Read by Robertson Dean
Transposition and arrangement
not applicable

Context

Context of "Mr. President" : George Washington and the making of the nation's highest office

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