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The last consideration has the more weight in view of the use that has been made of the book in the history depart- ments of our colleges. The changes and additions here noted have given the book so much greater scope than it had in its first form, that a broader title seems necessary. If it be urged that a history of the presidency should include an account of the development of the presidential office, and of the successive expansions or limitations of the Presidents powers and duties, the reply may be made that there has been no such development to record, since the office is now what it was in the time of Washington, neither of greater nor of less weight in the government than it was then. I have endeavored to collect and present all important mat- ters relating to the presidency, beginning with the constitu- tional history of the office, covering every public event and discussion which had a perceptible influence in determining who should hold the office, and in connection therewith to note the origin and sketch the history of all political parties, however ephemeral, that rose above the rank of a local faction. And, since one President is different from another, I have tried to show wherein and in what manner the personal quali- ties of the Presidents have affected the course of public events and of the national history. prev next |