I.A theory of presidential leadership. Leadership in America ; Presidential leadership ; Political skill in America ; Political skill: tactics and requisites ; Presidential politicking. --
II. The practice of presidential leadership. John Kennedy and federal aid to education ; Lyndon Johnson and the war on poverty ; Richard Nixon and the Family Assistance Plan ; Gerald Ford and the tax cut ; Jimmy Carter and the energy package ; Ronald Reagan and the budget cuts.

Using the six most recent presidents as case studies, this penetrating work demonstrates how presidential leadership, despite America's anti-authority bias, can still be a powerful agent for change.