Every four years, Americans elect the President of the United States, a figure who has come to be referred to as the "leader of the world" and plays a central role in the international political arena. For over 200 years, U.S. presidents have each marked their own era. From George Washington to Donald Trump, through Lincoln, Wilson, Kennedy, Obama, and others, the President of the United States has become the symbol of an entire nation, embodying the essence of the USA.

But what are the differences between them? What political upheavals have shaped the institution and powers of the President? Is he really as powerful as we think? How much do we really know about the American political system? In the wake of the 2016 elections, it is time to examine the complex political history of this country, beyond our recent familiarity with terms like electors, Super Tuesday, Congress, or primaries.

In a wholly comprehensible manner and through flowing narrative, leading French historians Andre Kaspi and Helene Harter illuminate the U.S. political system and its tumultuous evolution. Although Greeks have been fervent anti-Americans for decades, we knew little about the political history of the country we criticized. Today’s circumstances, however, are favorable for us to re-examine these issues more calmly.

The book explains the historical process through which the U.S. presidency, which initially had far fewer powers, has now come to concentrate significant power and is the decisive factor in the balance of the three branches of the oldest (non-monarchical) democracy. Through this narration, the entire tumultuous political history of the USA flows, from the Founding Fathers of the nation to President Donald Trump, along with the scandals, assassinations, and the major decisions that made this country the strongest on the planet.

Dimitris P. Sotiropoulos
Series editor, historian