Pitiful giants

About this book

"Since ratification of the 22nd Amendment in 1951, five presidents (Eisenhower, Reagan, Clinton, Bush, and Obama) have been elected to and served a second term. Presumably, by virtue of their term-limited status, these lame duck presidents are free from electoral pressure to pursue policies in the public interest. This, however, is a questionable assumption. Without the prospect of running for reelection and standing in judgment before the voters, presidents could use their last four years in office to pursue personal or peripheral political ambition, though few - if any - do so. Regardless of their personal ambitions, second term presidents face a number of structural obstacles that make it difficult for them to carry out their tasks. How then do presidents lead through these politically-complex circumstances. How can presidents make the most of their second-tem "mandates" while battling against waning political power? This book seeks to answer the complex - and often paradoxical - challenges laid forth for presidents in their lame duck years"--