The standard view of the transition is based on a distinction between campaigning and governing, with election day as the marker: campaigning before, preparing

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE, THE MARK LYNTON HISTORY PRIZE, THE AMERICAN HISTORY BOOK PRIZE Book Four of

In 1960, then-Senator John F. Kennedy asked author Richard Neustadt to write a series of memos to plan for the transition into office. Neustadt later also prepa

Biographers, historians, and journalists explore how selected US presidents of the 20th century have commanded, wielded, and sometimes dissipated the influence

Popular interpretations of American government tend to center on the presidency. Successes and failures of government are often attributed to presidents themsel