The Presidency in the Political Order
Stephen Skowronek


       
President's 
to the 
relationship 
Regime party
   
Opposed
Affiliated
   
Politics of Reconstruction
Politics of Disjunction
       
Standing of the 
Regime Party 
in the Nation
 Vulnerable T. Jefferson, A. Jackson, A. Lincoln, FDR, (T. Roosevelt ?) J. Q. Adams, F. Pierce, J.Buchanan,  H. Hoover, J. Carter ? 
  at large is:   
Politics of Preemption Politics of Articulation
   Resilient J. Tyler, A. Johnson, W. Wilson, R. Nixon, W. Clinton The Rest

Politics of Reconstruction: A president comes to power on the heels of an upheaval in electoral politics. Victories are spurred by widespread discontent with the established order. Victories displace a majority party. Strongly associated with great presidents.

Politics of Articulation: The presidency is the fount of political orthodoxy and the president is the minster to the faithful. The incumbent and the regime are consonant. The regime ideology is so strong there are no excuses for finally delivering regime promises. A sectarian struggle begins over the true meaning of orthodoxy.

Politics of Disjunction: Presidents are compelled to cope with the breakdown of state/social relations. They have affiliations with the old regime when basic commitments of ideology are changing. The real change is in the nation that obscures the relevance of the old regime.

Politics of Preemption: The president is the leader of the opposition in a previously dominant party that can still muster political and ideological support. His regime interrupts the working agenda of national politics and intrudes on the established order.