This article discusses William Howard Zj's theory ofpresidential kahsbip. Often seen as embodying apassive or weak conception of thepresidency anddismissedas anacbronistic, the author argues that E$'s theory merits a second look. First, through analysis of Zj'spresidential actions and academic wrikings, tbe autbor shaws tbat his theory is far more nuanced and substantial tban traditional accounts a h w . Zj's theory is best characterized as a 'party agency" Whig tbeoty of the presidency because of its simultaneous concern with popuhr democrq (via politicdparties) and presidential moderation. Second, the author argues tbat E j i theory of the presidency is rooted in nineteenth-century W%& and Republican ideas of presidential .kadership, which, appropriately understood, embody most of the sameprinciples and values. Thus was in many ways a conservator ofa nineteenth-century notion ofpresidential leadership. Finally, the author concludes that Z $ ' s Whiggish theory ofthe presidenv (as well as the nineteenth-centu y Whig/Republican theory of tbepresiden cy) bas much to contribute to contemporary debates on presidential leadership.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.