Executive Authority: Constitutional Leadership in the Modern Presidency

What defines constitutional leadership in today's complex political landscape? Dr. Barbara Perry, co-director of the presidential oral history program at the Miller Center, examines how modern presidents navigate their constitutional authority while facing unprecedented challenges. Drawing from her extensive work conducting presidential oral histories, Perry illuminates the delicate balance between executive power and constitutional constraints, from the critical process of peaceful power transitions to the expansion of civil rights. Through compelling stories of presidents from both parties, she reveals how different leaders have interpreted their constitutional role, managed times of crisis, and shaped the office of the presidency. The conversation explores how the founders' vision for executive authority, first shaped by James Madison, continues to evolve as each president grapples with their constitutional obligations to preserve, protect, and defend American democracy.