Navigating Presidential Challenges Through Constitutional Powers with Jordan Cash |BRI Scholar Talks

How can presidents, who face significant challenges exercise their constitutional powers vigorously? In this episode of Scholar Talks, Jordan Cash, Professor of Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy at Michigan State University, joins BRI Senior Fellow Tony Williams to discuss the concept of the "isolated presidency" as detailed in Cash’s book, The Isolated Presidency.

This episode examines how presidents such as John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, and Gerald Ford used constitutional authority to navigate significant obstacles like divided government, a lack of party support, and questions of legitimacy. Cash explores the unique ways these presidents upheld their executive powers, setting historical precedents in both domestic and foreign policy, and sheds light on what these cases can teach us about the presidency's role in modern American politics and governance.