The Presidential Difference:
Leadership Style from FDR to George
W. Bush by Fred I. Greenstein
Review
Princeton Universitys Fred I. Greenstein caps off an illustrious career as a
presidential scholar with The Presidential Difference. This book wont
fundamentally change the way anybody looks at the last 11 chief
executives--Greensteins earlier work The Hidden-Hand Presidency
revolutionized the academys view of Eisenhower--but it does provide a
worthwhile series of minibiographies and analytical summations.
Greenstein rates his subjects in several categories: communication,
organization, political skill, vision, cognitive style, and emotional
intelligence. His assessments can be quite frank: Roosevelt is the source
of endless positive lessons; Truman illustrates the cost of a defective
communication style and a situation-determined approach to presidential
leadership; Ford is underappreciated; and so on. Who is Greensteins
favorite? Its clearly FDR, even though he confronts the question with an

amusing anecdote about LBJ. Walking on a tarmac in Vietnam, an airman
says, This is your helicopter, Mr. President. Johnson replies, They are all
my helicopters. Writes Greenstein: Each of the modern presidents is a
source of insight, as much for his weaknesses as his strengths. The
variation among them provides intellectual leverage, permitting
comparisons and expanding our sense of the possible. And so, he writes,
They are all my presidents. --John J. Miller
Personal Review: The Presidential Difference: Leadership Style
from FDR to George W. Bush by Fred I. Greenstein
Greenstein's The Presidential Difference is short and sweet. It condenses
the story of our Presidents from FDR to George W. Bush into an easy to
read manner. Each chapter is dedicated to a President and gives six points
upon which they are evaluated, which makes comparisons with other
Presidents in the book easy. Even with only 223 pages nothing seems to
be left out. The book is engaging from beginning to end and before you
know it you have gone through twelve presidencies. To end it all
Greenstein wraps 13 chapters up in a magnificent conclusion titled
"Lessons from the Modern Presidency". There isn't any more one can ask
for. I highly recommend this book as a good read, that is fun, short, and a
great way to brush up on knowledge of our Presidents.
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