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What makes a president great? Two of America's most prominent institutions, The Wall Street Journal and the Federalist Society, with the help of a wide array of eminent scholars, journalists, and political leaders, tackle this question in Presidential Leadership, the definitive ranking of our nation's chief executives. 

Based on a survey conducted by the Federalist Society and the Journal, Presidential Leadership examines presidential performance in this collection of provocative, enlightening essays written by a distinguished and diverse group of authors.

The survey included seventy-eight liberal and conservative scholars, balancing the sample to reflect the political makeup of the U.S. population as a whole. It represents the first national survey in book form that provides a complete ranking of the presidents, along with an appendix that explains the methodology in detail and includes a wide range of valuable data. The result is an important, fresh, and engaging book, rating the presidents from Washington to Clinton and including an early assessment of George W. Bush's presidency by Journal editorial page editor Paul Gigot. Nearly fifty contributors provide their insights, with one essay on each president or on a broader issue of presidential leadership.

Their compelling essays, packed with fascinating and often surprising insights, analyze the best and worst of our commanders in chief. Presidential Leadership is the lively result, at once a valuable reference and a tremendously readable collection. 

Leonard Leo serves as executive vice president of the Federalist Society, an organization of 35,000 lawyers and other individuals committed to limited, constitutional government as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution. He has worked with the organization since 1991 and has practiced law in Washington, D.C., and New Jersey. He has co-edited and published several articles and monographs relating to presidential power. A graduate of Cornell University and Cornell Law School, he lives in Washington, D.C.

Red Bean Burgers
Tasty and nutritious soy-packed burger great for summertime picnics and fun. Ingredients 2 16 oz. cans of red beans 1/2 pound firm tofu 1 egg 1 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese 1 onion 1/2 green pepper Directions Dice and lightly saute onion and green pepper, set aside. Mash beans with fork in medium mixing bowl. Mix tofu in with fork. Mix in breadcrumbs, egg, and [..]

Industrial Pollution and Chemicals
We’ve made it to the 21st century and we’re still extremely dependent on petro-chemicals for all our needs. They’re detrimental to personal and planetary health. At the rate we’re going we won’t have a planet for future generations and the air won’t be healthy enough to breathe. Today was a perfect day to go out and [..]

The Future of Music
The vaunted future of music is a favorite topic with critics. Here we raise the possibility that a turning point has been reached. Music is many-splendored: it is a form of expression, a form of communication, and a form of entertainment. As a form of expression, music is about the self, the artist. As a form [..]

Fat and Fit. Fat and Happy
Is it possible to be fat and fit? Some think so. The obesity experts say that being 30 pounds overweight isn’t all that dangerous. If you’re less than 30 pounds overweight, you should really be worried only if you have two or more risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, [..]

Antioxidants and Free Radicals
It is known that smoking produces free radicals in the body. Find out more about what these are and how they’re related to antioxidants. Oxygen may be hazardous to your health. We can’t live without oxygen, of course. But just as exposure to oxygen causes iron to rust and butter to go rancid, it can wreak [..]