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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.

Getting Back to the Political Issues
Imagine a world in which, during political campaigns, the issues were actually discussed and no mud was slung. How much could be accomplished if candidates truly believed in solving problems and set out to do so? In the last presidential campaign, much was made of “the soccer moms,” the suburban opinion-makers in their minivans, tending [..]

At Long Last, Hannah Claire. Part 2
She still insisted that some discomfort was a normal part of the process. But ultimately, she phoned in a prescription for a powerful sleeping potion. Dutifully, Steve retrieved it from the drug store, and dutifully I took it; it did nothing but make me drowsier. My brother, also a doctor, called to check up on [..]

At Long Last, Hannah Claire. Part 1
It finally happened. And I do mean finally! On August 24th, at 6:33 a.m., little Hannah Claire, all 8 pounds, 20 1/2 inches of her, slid into the world. And the amazing part of it was that she did it on her own, meaning I didn’t have to have the Pitocin. Let me tell you [..]

What is Hypertension?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is called the “silent killer” with good reason. It is the leading cause of heart attack and stroke. It may also be a sign of other health problems, such as diabetes or kidney disease. Blood pressure is measured with a device that records two numbers. The lower the numbers, the [..]

Preventive Measures
Follow these guidelines and you will increase your chances of preventing tinnitus from occurring: If you are exposed to loud music, wear earplugs or earmuffs. If your work environment contains loud noise, be sure to protect your ears with the proper gear. Don’t use cotton balls. They don’t block enough sound, and they can become [..]