Our Chief Magistrate and His Powers: A Reconsideration of William Howard Taft's “Whig” Theory of Presidential Leadership

Abstract

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.

The Historical Presidency: The Road Not Taken: Warren G. Harding and the Dilemmas of Regime Restoration

“…It is important to reiterate that Taft supported most of the Roosevelt administration's progressive reforms; it was less on policy goals that the two men differed (at least not initially) than on the means to those ends. Taft adhered to a traditional understanding of presidential leadership that valued separation of powers, deliberation, the authority of law, and party leadership, while opposing demagoguery and popular leadership (Korzi ; Robinson ).…”