Accidental Presidents

One of the commonly stated virtues of modern constitutional democracies is their capacity to insure reliable and accepted methods of political succession through election. This book focuses on one particular, though not uncommon, complication in the democratic mode of political succession: American vice-presidents who assume office as a result of the death, assassination or resignation of a president. Three basic strategies by “accidental presidents” to establish and enhance their legitimacy are identified and evaluated. While none are reliably successful, each provides a lens to study the nature of presidential power and authority as well as to contribute to a democratic theory of succession.

Philip Abbott is Distinguished University Professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. His recent books include Exceptional America: Newness and National Identity (1999), Political Thought in America: Conversations and Debates, third edition (2004), The Many Faces of Patriotism (2007) and Accidental Presidents: Death, Assassination, Resignation and Democratic Succession (forthcoming, 2008). He has published articles in Journal of American Studies, Rhetoric and Public Affairs, Journal of Politics, Perspectives on Politics, Journal of Utopian Studies, Amerikastudien, Soundings and other journals. He has held the Thomas Jefferson Chair in American Studies at the University of Amsterdam.