Mr. President: George Washington and the Making of the Nation's Highest Office

Although the framers gave the president little authority, Washington knew whatever he did would set precedents for generations of his successors. To ensure their ability to defend the nation, he simply ignored the Constitution when he thought it necessary and reshaped the presidency into what James Madison called a "monarchical presidency." Modern scholars call it the "imperial presidency."

A revealing new look at the birth of American government, "Mr. President" describes George Washington'...