The Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership.

NEUSTADT, Richard.

Item Number: 105068

New York and London: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1960.

Rare first edition of Neustadt’s fundamental examination of presidential power, which upon publication immediately prompted John F. Kennedy to hire him as his advisor, speechwriter and confidante. Octavo, original half cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Ted Sorenson, Special Counsel to the President with congratulations … and regards – Dick Neustadt.” The recipient, Ted Sorenson was Neustadt’s colleague, and fellow speechwriter and advisor to President Kennedy. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in very good condition. An exceptional association copy of this landmark book.

It was at Columbia University that Neustadt wrote the book Presidential Power, in which he examined the decision-making process at the highest levels of government. He argued that the President is actually rather weak in the U.S. government, being unable to effect significant change without the approval of the Congress, and that in practice the President must rely on a combination of personal persuasion, professional reputation "inside the Beltway", and public prestige to get things done. With his book appearing just before the election of John F. Kennedy, Neustadt soon found himself in demand by the President-elect, and began his advisory role with a 20-page memo suggesting things the President should and should not try to do at the beginning of his term. During the 1960s, Neustadt continued to advise Kennedy and later Lyndon B. Johnson.