The writer and historian Alfred J. Zacher discusses his book, Presidential Power: In Troubled Second Terms (Telemachus Press, 2012) and the current presidential election, with Joseph Planta.

Presidential Power: In Troubled Second Terms by Alfred J. Zacher (Telemachus Press, 2012). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Presidential Power

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

In the heat of the current presidential campaign in the United States, it’s a great time to look back a bit with the historian Alfred J. Zacher. He’s just published Presidential Power: In Troubled Second Terms. A previous version came out in 1996 called Trial and Triumph: Presidential Power in the Second Term. It was much discussed; even President Clinton at the time had talked about it in the press. We’ll ask Mr. Zacher about what happens to presidents in their second term, and we’ll talk about this current campaign, and see what Barack Obama faces if he gets re-elected in November. Alfred Zacher has studied social movements and political trends for over forty years; he’s been featured on the Today Show, Chris Matthews, and C-SPAN. This book is published by Telemachus Press. The website for more is at www.presidentialsecondterms.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Alfred Zacher; Mr. Zacher, good morning.

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