Jeremi Suri, PhD presents The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America’s Highest Office
*Interviewed by Rob M. Citino, PhD

5:00 p.m. Reception  |  6:00 p.m. Presentation  |  7:00 p.m. Book Signing

Why have recent presidents failed to bring promised change? What are the lessons from the past, especially Franklin Roosevelt’s wartime leadership? How have the presidency and American leadership evolved from the Second World War to our current day?

The Impossible Presidency charts the rise and fall of the American presidency, from the limited role envisaged by the Founding Fathers to its current status as the most powerful job in the world. Historian Jeremi Suri focuses particular attention on the enduring influence of World War II, and the combined challenges and opportunities in the postwar era. Suri argues the presidency is a victim of its own success—the vastness of the job makes it almost impossible to fulfill the expectations placed upon it. As managers of the world’s largest economy and military, contemporary presidents must react to a truly globalized world in a 24-hour news cycle. There is little room left for the bold vision and strategic leadership of Roosevelt and his fellow war leaders.

Suri traces America’s disenchantment with our recent presidents to the inevitable mismatch between presidential promises and the structural limitations of the office. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the Second World War and its legacies for twenty-first century leadership.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeremi Suri is a professor of history and holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas.

Register for this event online or over the phone at 504-528-1944 x 412.