
Eminent diplomatic historian Plischke has done a signal service for both students and scholars in this new look at the US president's direct role in foreign affairs. Plische, in fact, broadens the subject beyond the title of the book to look at the role of the White House in foreign policy, particularly in the use of presidential emissaries and the modern role of national security advisors. The time frame for the book is generally the 20th century, although the author appropriately covers prior events having implications for direct presidential involvement in foreign affairs. Despite the predominance of public perceptions that summit meetings are a US-Soviet innovation of recent years, Plischke explains the key role of earlier presidents such as Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry Truman. With his typically thorough scholarship Plischke produces a very long study, justified by the richness of the material. A useful bibliography and a superb index make the book even more valuable. Undergraduates as well as graduate students will find this book an invaluable source as they seek to understand the antecedents of current controversies over presidents becoming their own secretaries of state.
This work investigates the evolution and constitutional implications of the United States President's direct involvement in international diplomacy and summitry. Elmer Plischke, a noted diplomatic historian, utilizes extensive archival research and historical analysis to examine how the executive branch has increasingly bypassed traditional diplomatic channels. The book argues that the modern presidency has fundamentally shifted toward a model where the White House acts as the primary architect and executor of foreign policy.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and students of political science frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the historical precedents of executive-led diplomacy. Experts highlight the thoroughness of the research and the utility of the provided bibliography for academic study.
Page Count:
518
Publication Date:
1986-01-01
Publisher:
Praeger
ISBN-10:
0030018234
ISBN-13:
9780030018237
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