Phantoms of a Beleaguered Republic

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This work dissects a fundamental issue in American governance: the clash between presidents seeking tighter control over administration and an executive branch designed to promote shared interests through deliberation and expertise. President Trump frequently confronted the institutions of the executive branch, bringing two previously obscure concepts to the forefront. One was the notion of a "Deep State" conspiracy, where administrators were seen as undermining the elected president's authority. The other was a raw personalization of presidential power, supported by the theory of the "unitary executive," which often disregarded reason and the rule of law. These concepts framed the major conflicts of Trump's presidency, acting as opposing forces. The authors, Stephen Skowronek, John A. Dearborn, and Desmond King, trace the historical tensions between presidential power and the American state, highlighting past settlements and vulnerabilities in a Constitution that inadequately addresses administrative power. Rather than merely criticizing Trump, they offer a historical perspective on the conflicts that defined his presidency and warn that if unaddressed, these opposing forces could continue to destabilize American governance. In this expanded paperback edition, they also discuss the tumultuous Trump-Biden transition and broader challenges facing presidential democracy in contemporary America.