THE PRESIDENCY IN THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM*

In: Presidential studies quarterly, Band 14, Heft 3, S. 324-334

Abstract

IN THE SPRING 1984 ISSUE OF PRESIDENTIAL STUDIES QUARTERLY CHAIRMEN FAHRENKOPF AND MANATT PRESENTED THE PARTICULARS ABOUT THE POLITICS THAT YOU WILL SEE UNFOLD IN 1984. NOW THE AUTHOR WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A GENERAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE NATURE OF AMERICAN POLITICS AND ITS SYSTEMIC WEAKNESS THAT MAKES THE PRESIDENCY ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT. MY CENTRAL POINT IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN THAT OUR PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN STARTS TOO SOON, MISUNDERSTAND FUNDAMENTALLY THE NATURE OF OUR POLITICS AND THE CENTRALITY THE PRESIDECY HAS. OUR CAMPAIGNS DON'T START TOO SOON, OUR CAMPAIGNS NEVER START; THEY NEVER END. THERE IS AN ONGOING, CONSTANT CAMPAIGNING, CONSTANT MANEUVERING, THAT IS ALL A PART OF THE POLITICAL CONVERSATION OF A GREAT CONTINENTAL NATION.