The Executive Branch of the Federal Government: Purpose, Process, and People

Introduction 11 Chapter 1: The Role of the Executive 21 The Political Executive 22 Presidential Systems of Government 25 The Presidency of the United States 27 Duties of the Office 27 Primary Document: The Constitution of the United States: Article II 28 Historical Development of the Presidency 29 Primary Document: The Constitution of the United States: Twenty-third Amendment 40 In Focus: The Watergate Scandal 42 Selecting a President 45 Primary Document: The Constitution of the United States: Twelfth Amendment 48 The Vice Presidency of the United States 60 The First Lady of the United States 64 The White House 78 Executive Departments and Agencies 85 The Cabinet 86 Executive Agencies and Offices 94 Chapter 2: Presidents of the United States: George Washington to William McKinley 103 George Washington 103 Childhood and Youth 103 Prerevolutionary Military and Political Career 104 Revolutionary Leadership 109 Presidency 113 John Adams 116 Early Life 116 Continental Congress 117 Foreign Service 118 Political Philosophy 119 Vice Presidency and Presidency 120 Retirement 122 Thomas Jefferson 123 Early Years 123 Declaring Independence 124 American in Paris 125 Party Politics 126 Presidency 128 Retirement 131 James Madison 132 Early Life and Political Activities 133 The Father of the Constitution 134 Madison’s Presidency 136 Later Life 137 James Monroe 138 Early Life and Career 138 Minister to France 139 The Louisiana Purchase 140 Presidency 141 John Quincy Adams 142 Early Life and Career 142 Break with the Federalists 144 Secretary of State 145 Presidency and Feud with Jackson 145 Second Career in Congress 146 Andrew Jackson 147 Early Life 147 Tennessee Politics 148 Military Feats 149 Presidential Prospects 150 Jacksonian Democracy 151 The First Term 151 Reelection in 1832 153 Martin Van Buren 154 William Henry Harrison 156 John Tyler 159 James K. Polk 161 Early Life and Career 162 Presidency 164 Zachary Taylor 164 Millard Fillmore 167 Franklin Pierce 169 James Buchanan Abraham Lincoln 174 Life 175 Reputation and Character 185 Andrew Johnson 187 Early Life and Career 187 The Presidency 189 Impeachment 190 Ulysses S. Grant 191 Early Life 192 The Civil War 193 Command over Union Armies 193 Grant’s Presidency 195 Later Life 196 Rutherford B. Hayes 197 James A. Garfield 199 Chester A. Arthur 202 Grover Cleveland 205 Benjamin Harrison 209 William McKinley 212 Chapter 3: Presidents of the United States: Theodore Roosevelt to Barack Obama 216 Theodore Roosevelt 216 The Early Years 216 The Square Deal 219 Foreign Policy 220 Last Years as President 221 Later Years 221 William Howard Taft 222 Woodrow Wilson 225 Early Life, Education, and Governorship 226 First Term as President 227 Second Term as President 228 Warren G. Harding 230 Calvin Coolidge 233 Herbert Hoover 236 Franklin D. Roosevelt 240 Early Life 240 Early Political Activities 241 Paralysis to Presidency 242 The First Term 244