The document discusses the growth of presidential power in the US from the New Deal era through the Nixon presidency, which culminated in the "imperial presidency" with wide authority over foreign policy. However, in response to abuses of power during the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal, Congress took steps to increase oversight of the president and curb some executive powers through acts like the War Powers Resolution, reducing the imperial model and imperiling the presidency.

1. Imperial
v
Imperilled

2. Imperial Presidency
• Growth of federal power – New Deal
• U.S. World’s policeman – foreign policy now
largely the domain of the president and Congress
usually defers to the White House in this area
• The Nixon presidency (1968 -1974) generally seen
as the culmination of the growth of presidential
power
• Schlesinger called this the ‘imperial presidency’ in
1973
• Because of this growth it contained more
possibility for abuse – which happened during
Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal

3. Imperilled Presidency
• Increasing congressional resources to make Congress more
effective in oversight, such as setting up Congressional Budget
Office
• Passing the Case Act of 1972, forcing the president to inform
Congress of all executive agreements made with other states
• Allowing the passage of the War Powers Resolution in 1973
(vetoed by Nixon but overridden), restricting, in theory, the
president’s powers to commit troops into hostilities.
• Passing the budget & Impoundment Control Act in 1974 to prevent
the president from impounding money agreed by Congress
• The threat of impeachment leading to resignation of ‘imperial’
president.