The Center works closely with senior leadership in the Executive and Legislative Branches on a bipartisan basis to further the understanding and functioning of the American Presidency and its related institutions by drawing on the lessons of the past when confronting current challenges and opportunities. Our nation's experiences, from the Continental Congress through the Cold War until today, can help frame and offer solutions to the problems facing us.
In 1999, the Center provided a series of ground-breaking studies for the incoming President, his new Administration and Congress. The first of these was Triumphs and Tragedies of the Modern Presidency: Seventy-Six Case Studies in Presidential Leadership, in which more than 50 of the nation's leading Presidential historians and journalists describe the most notable successes-and failures-of American presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Bill Clinton, with emphasis on the first 100 days of each Presidency. The book was provided to transition teams for both the George W. Bush and Al Gore campaigns and portions of it were provided to Barack Obama's transition team in 2008. It is still used in universities across the country.
To expand upon themes in Triumphs and Tragedies, the Center published a series of reports on specific policy issues:
- Comprehensive Strategic Reform, which called for a post-Cold War net assessment, was published shortly after September 11, 2001, and reflects the challenges of the new war on terror. It was shared with the then-Vice President, Secretary of State, and the National Security Advisor.
- In Harm's Way: Intervention and Prevention summarizes the growing number and complexity of threats to U.S. security and provides checklists used by past Presidents in their decisions over the necessity of an intervention. It was also provided to the then-National Security Advisor.
- Dialogues on Presidential Leadership: The President, Congress and the Media includes recommendations from U.S. Senators and Presidential advisors on how the President can improve his relations with Congress and the media.
- Advancing Innovation: Improving the S&T Advisory Structure and Policy Process stresses the urgency of appointing a Presidential Science Advisor and gaining sustained corporate and Congressional support for basic science research.
In 2008, Center President David Abshire published A Call to Greatness: Challenging Our Next President, which draws from history to outline the characteristics that would be needed in the next President. It was provided in draft form to all of the major Presidential candidates as well as to Members of Congress and the media.
Presidential Studies Quarterly (PSQ) is the only scholarly journal that focuses on the most powerful political figure in our nation-the President of the United States. An indispensable resource for understanding the U.S. Presidency, Presidential Studies Quarterly combines a selection of articles, features, review essays, and book reviews covering all aspects of the American Presidency. PSQ's distinguished contributors are leading scholars and professionals in political science, history, and communications.
Staff Contact
For more information, please contact Alex Douville, Dean of the Presidential Fellows Program and Director of Education Projects, via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 202-872-9800.
