Presidents and Civil Liberties from Wilson to Obama: A Story of Poor Custodians

ISBN-13: 9781107016606 / Angielski / Twarda / 2012 / 570 str.

Samuel Walker

Opis

This is the first book to examine the civil liberties records of American presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Barack Obama.

Recenzje

'… [an] exciting, important book … It is an engaging, fascinating, eye-opening, impressively researched and thoughtful discussion of such a vital topic. To the credit of the author, the book is scrupulously fair and non-partisan, taking special pains to dispel stereotypes, shibboleths and oversimplifications about particular presidents and political parties. The initial exploration of the Obama Administration's record, putting it into the overall historical context, is very important - critical but fair.' Nadine Strossen, New York Law School and former President, American Civil Liberties Union (1991–2008)

Spis treści

1. Introduction: presidents and civil liberties; Part I. The Early Years: 2. Woodrow Wilson and the suppression of civil liberties in World War I; 3. Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover: civil liberties in the wilderness; 4. Franklin D. Roosevelt: the mixed legacy of a strong president; Part II. Civil Liberties in the Cold War and Civil Rights Eras: 5. Harry Truman: courage and contradictions; 6. Dwight D. Eisenhower: a failure of presidential leadership; 7. John F. Kennedy: the failed promise of the new frontier; 8. The glory and the tragedy of Lyndon Johnson; 9. Richard Nixon: a singular abuse of presidential power; Part III. The Post-Watergate Era: 10. Gerald Ford: a minor president in very interesting times; 11. Jimmy Carter: failed president, good civil libertarian; 12. Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush: the neo-conservative assault on civil liberties; 13. Bill Clinton: the divided soul of a 'new democrat'; Part IV. Civil Liberties in the Age of Terrorism: 14. George W. Bush: the worst president ever on civil liberties; 15. Reflections on presidents, civil liberties, and democracy with observations on Barack Obama.