MixedThe Wall Street JournalMr. Suri explores the presidency by analyzing some of the country’s most consequential chief executives. What emerges from his account is a narrative of evolution, from George Washington’s 'fatherly mode of executive leadership' to FDR’s expansive 'superpower presidency' and beyond to our most recent leaders ... It’s an intriguing thesis—and a debatable one. True, a crisis of governance has chewed up some recent presidents, but is the problem the presidency or the presidents? Perhaps we simply haven’t found a chief executive, yet, who can handle the modern requirements of the office. Mr. Suri’s case is further marred by historically questionable pronouncements ... Yes, the country is only just muddling through these days, and maybe Mr. Suri’s thesis about a broken presidency explains much of the problem. History tells us, though, that America will surmount its current crisis through bold and imaginative leadership—or it won’t surmount it at all.
