When circumstances and decisions complicated presidential leadership

 

Presidents enter office with constitutional authority, but their ability to govern also depends on public confidence, congressional support, trusted advisers, and their response to unexpected events.

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The ten presidencies below illustrate different challenges to effective government. Some presidents inherited national emergencies. Others encountered political isolation or controversies arising from their own decisions or lack of leadership. Their experiences also show why legislative accomplishment, public communication, administrative oversight, and constitutional limits can ruin a president's legacy.

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Presented chronologically, these profiles examine specific difficulties alongside relevant context.