Book Reviews and Notices : The President: Office and Powers. BY EDWARD L. CORWIN. (New York: New York University Press. 1948. Pp. xvii, 552. $6.75.)

• Author: Jack E. Holmes
• Date: 01 December 1949
• DOI: 10.1177/106591294900200447
• Published date: 01 December 1949
• Subject Matter: Articles

663
ing the respect of other powers. The Constitution had developed from a
brief written document to a living dynamic instrument. In bringing about
this transformation the Washington administration accomplished a task of
inestimable value.
This volume is an intimate study of the early formative days of the
Washington administration. It is a constitutional history of the presidency
during those days. As such it is a valuable addition to the already volum-
inous literature of the period. Professor Hart concentrated his extensive
research on a study of the extremely important role of the executive
in establishing our government and actually shaping the future history
of our country.
Under the Articles of Confederation the weak United States gov-
ernment had known no president; now it had one. And while the Consti-
tution had definitely delegated certain powers to the newly created execu-
tive, it had often sketched them in rather broad terms. The future power
and scope of the presidential office in our governmental system would be
largely determined by the first occupant of that office. Indeed, the success
or failure of the new government would depend largely on him. Wash-
ington seemed cognizant of this fact and of the importance of his posi,
tion ; he sensed that the future history of the United States would be
greatly influenced by him and his administration. Realizing this, he charted
his course.
In seven chapers bearing such headings as: &dquo;The President as Chief
of State,&dquo; &dquo;The President and Congress,&dquo; &dquo;The President as Administra-
tive Chief,&dquo; &dquo;The Establishment of the Great Departments,&dquo; the author
brings to life the problems of this first administration and shows how
Washington met and solved those problems.
The book is enhanced by countless quotations from contemporary
sources. It is thoroughly annotated and indexed.
DAVID E. MILLER.
University of Utah.
The President: Office and Powers. BY EDWARD L. CORWIN. (New...