Mr. President, Harlow Giles Unger
Mr. President, Harlow Giles Unger
List: $19.95 | Sale: $13.97
Club: $9.97

Mr. President
George Washington and the Making of the Nations Highest Office

Author: Harlow Giles Unger

Narrator: Robertson Dean

Unabridged: 6 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/29/2013


Synopsis

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 Washingtons 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.

About Harlow Giles Unger

Harlow Giles Unger was the 2008 Distinguished Visiting Fellow in American History at George Washington's Mount Vernon. A veteran journalist, broadcaster, educator, and historian, he is author of sixteen books, including five biographies of America's Founders.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Micah on January 28, 2023

Harlow Giles Unger's Mr. President presents a snapshot into an incredibly important period in United States history. Not that of the founding of the country, but of the molding of its offices. Washington had no predecessors, there were no former presidents to lean on or go to for guidance. Every mov......more

Goodreads review by Denise on October 30, 2013

All the work to write the Constitution, get it ratified, and then what?..... This book tells the story of what comes next. How does a President with very little powers vested in him in the Constitution find a place for himself. It would have been easy for President Washington to sit back and remain......more

Goodreads review by Ben on March 19, 2023

I thought this was a very good book about George Washington's Presidency. How he basically created the position and "7 pillars" of power, (power to lead foreign policy, Exec Privilege, etc) that basically put the meat on the bones of what the constitution set up as the top position of the government......more

Goodreads review by Benjamin on March 03, 2014

Seriously.... Politics never change......more

Goodreads review by Bill on November 12, 2020

They wrote the basic outline of the government but how was it supposed to work? This book is how George Washington after becoming President created powers for the the office. The office is ill defined in the constitution. Washington after becoming President found himself with little to do. He slowly......more