The Moral Authority of Government: Essays to Commemorate the Centennial of the National Institute of Social Sciences

Moorhead Kennedy, Ralph Gordon Hoxie, Brenda Repland

Transaction Publishers - Political Science - 300 pages

These new essays prepared to commemorate the centennial of the National Institute of Social Sciences have been carefully crafted to deal with an overriding concern of our time--those elements in political rule that go beyond legal rights and responsibilities into the moral requirements of effective governance. The principal theme of this book is presidential leadership. The presidency personifies government authority, including moral authority.

In the first part of this book most of the essays argue that the moral authority of leaders depends on high personal standards as well as policy outcomes. The second segment on the rule of law and character raises considerations not limited to the presidency. Character and the authority that derives from it are demonstrated most effectively not by what someone does in his or her personal life, but in the moral values of the causes espoused and effectiveness in pursuing them. In the realm of international affairs, governmental leadership must wrestle with the moral and constitutional guidelines known as "reasons of state." Under what circumstances is it morally acceptable for a leader or government to practice deception upon the citizenry, to overthrow other governments, to bomb civilians?

Many contributors raise the issue of what permits a government to take actions that would be immoral or illegal in individuals or groups. The final segment expands and deepens this theme by exploring the work and role of non-governmental agencies that influence both leaders and citizens in the public arena. In short, at a period that brings to a close a period in which the presidency has become more visible as well as more prominent, this collective effort sheds new light on classic themes. It will be an invaluable guide as we enter the new century.

The contributors include an illustrious galaxy of public officials and political scientists, including Madeleine K. Albright, Judith A. Best, Betty Glad, C. Lowell Harriss, Travis Beal Jacobs, Ruth P. Morgan, Stanley A. Renshon, Donald L. Robinson and William vanden Heuvel.

Moorhead Kennedy is author of several works on terrorism and recipient of the Medal of Valor from the Department of State.

R. Gordon Hoxie is founding president of C.W. Post College, chancellor of Long Island University, and founding president of the Center for the Study of the Presidency. He is author and editor of many books, and founding editor of Presidential Studies Quarterly. Brenda Repland studied at the University of Oregon and Harvard Business School. She was formerly corporate account manager at Digital Equipment Corporation, and current president and managing partner of the Moorhead Kennedy Group.

Contents

• Moral Action and Presidential Leadership: 7
• The Presidency and Moral Leadership: 13
• The Moral Talk of American Presidents: 19
• The Moral Dimension of the Presidency: 24
• The Presidency Legitimate Authority and Governance: 30
• Principled Courageous Leadership The Lost Core of American Politics: 37
• Polling and Pandering The End of the Presidencys Moral Authority?: 45
• A Gender Analysis of the Moral Legitimacy of the Presidency: 51
• How Bully is the Pulpit? Moral Authority of the American Presidents in the TwentyFirst Century: 56
• When Governments Are Good: 63
• Eisenhower and the Moral Authority of Government: 69
• The Authority of Presidents Personal Morality and Political Effectiveness: 75
• THE RULE OF LAW Moral Authority and the Rule of Law: 83
• The Rule of Law: 89
• The Rule of Law at the Millennium: 96
• Civil Disobedience the Rule of Law and the Moral Authority of Government Tension between Two Strains of American Thought?: 100
• Constitutional Authority and Public Morality: 108
• The Moral Authority of Government: 113
• The Concept of Government Historical and Comparative Observations: 118
• The Moral Authority of Government: 124
• The Supreme Court and Affirmative Action: 131
• Antitrust A Codification of American Morality: 137
• CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY Moral Authority through Character and Integrity: 149
• Moral Authority of Government: 155
• Character in the First PostModern Presidency: 160
• Is Government an Authority on Morality?: 167
• The Once and Future ? Consensus: 173
• The Paradox of Governmental Power: 183
• On Telling the Truth: 189
• Deception in Government: 195
• American Politics 1999 Style Congestion in the Middle of the Political Spectrum: 200
• Moral Authority of Government: 207
• The Moral Authority of Government A Religious Perspective: 210
• INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Moral Authority in International Affairs: 215
• The Moral Authority of Government: 219
• The United States and the United Nations The Moral Authority to Preserve Peace: 222
• The United Nations and the Moral Authority of Government: 227
• The Moral Authority of Government: 231
• Moral Authority in Government: 235
• The Moral Authority of Government: 240
• PHILANTHROPY AND SCIENCE Moral Authority as Exercised through Philanthropy and Science: 245
• The Moral Authority of Government The Role of Foundations and Philanthropy: 249
• The Moral Authority of Government: 254
• Conservation Beyond Preservation: 257
• Altruism An American Characteristic?: 264
• Breaking the Genetic Code: 267
• Scientists and Their Moral Authority in Government: 270
• NOTES: 275
• INDEX: 297

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Moral Authority of Government: Essays to Commemorate the Centennial of the National Institute of Social Sciences
• Editors: Moorhead Kennedy, Ralph Gordon Hoxie, Brenda Repland
• Contributor: National Institute of Social Sciences (U. S.)
• Publisher: Transaction Publishers
• ISBN: 1412837847, 9781412837842
• Length: 300 pages
• Subjects: Political Science / American Government / General; Political Science / History & Theory; Political Science / Political Process / General; Political Science / Political Process / Leadership; Social Science / Feminism & Feminist Theory