Throughout history, the American presidency was — and arguably still is — the most powerful office in the world. In The Impossible Presidency, historian Jeremi Suri charts the rise and fall of the America's highest office from the limited role envisaged by the Founding Fathers to its current status as global influencer.
He argues that the presidency is a victim of its own success — the vastness of the job makes it almost impossible to fulfill the expectations placed upon it. As managers of the world's largest economy and military, contemporary presidents must react to a truly globalized world facing continuously evolving threats in a 24-hour news cycle, leaving little room for bold vision. Are we holding our contemporary presidents to an unrealistic standard? If this is true, as we prepare to embark on the 2020 election, what can — and should — we expect from our current and future presidents?
Jeremi Suri
Author, The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office
Robyn Minter Smyers
President, Board of Directors, The City Club of Cleveland
