Ocean State Libraries

On May 18, 1860, everyone waited for the results from the Republican National Convention. Lincoln won, Goodwin demonstrates, because of his extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men. It was this capacity that enabled Lincoln as president to bring his disgruntled opponents together and marshal their talents to the task of preserving the union and winning the war.

Niccolo Machiavelli, one of the eminent minds of the Italian Renaissance, spent much of a long and active lifetime trying to determine and understand what exceptional qualities of human character, and what surrounding elements of fortune, luck, and timing, made great men great leaders successful in war and peace. In perhaps the liveliest book on Machiavelli in years, Michael A. Ledeen measures contemporary movers and doers against the timeless standards...

What do leaders need to know in order to be effective? Carnes Lord-a political scientist with extensive experience at high levels of American government-here offers witty and trenchant counsel to both leaders and the citizens who elect them. Exploring such issues as leadership in war and crises, diplomacy, intelligence, the media, and the role of political advisors, Lord enumerates the major challenges confronting modern leaders and offers practical...

In the twentieth century, America endured numerous struggles, from economic depression to the war in Iraq. Each struggle gave rise to demagogues, as did the growth and reach of mass media. Donald Trump's 2016 election has presented a new challenge. How did past politics and presidential administrations pave the way for this current assault on American democracy? Dallek considers a century of modern administrations, from Teddy Roosevelt to today, shining...

Explores the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower through the lens of his last three days in office in January 1961, revealing him to be a model of strong yet principled leadership. January 1961: President Eisenhower has three days to secure the nation's future before his young successor, John F. Kennedy, takes power--a final mission by the legendary leader who planned D-Day and guided America through the darkening Cold War. Bret Baier, the Chief Political...

"All too frequently, leadership is reduced to a simple dichotomy: the strong versus the weak. Yet, there are myriad ways to exercise effective political leadership -- as well as different ways to fail. We blame our leaders for economic downfalls and praise them for vital social reforms, but rarely do we question what makes some leaders successful while others falter. In this magisterial and wide-ranging survey of political leadership over the past...

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright offers a persuasive, wide-ranging set of recommendations to the prospective winner of the 2008 Presidential election. Secretary Albright explains how to select a first-rate foreign policy team, how to avoid the pitfalls that plagued earlier presidents, how to ensure that decisions, once carefully made, are successfully implemented, and how to employ the full range of tools available to a president to persuade...

A Washington insider reveals how modern presidents have succeeded--and failed--in making foreign policy. In the wake of recent American experiences abroad, and with a new administration taking office, here is an in-depth look at what actually happens in the Oval Office, from a respected expert who has held several high-level government positions. Rodman offers a telling survey of modern presidential policy-making, challenging many conventional accounts...