What happened to the presidency around the turn of the 20th century? How did it go from being a strong institution under leaders like Washington and Lincoln to one that progressives saw as weak and ineffective? Could it be that the rapid changes of the Progressive Era revealed cracks in the system? What was it that so frustrated these thinkers, prompting them to call for a powerful transformation of the office?

In this episode of This Constitution, Matthew Brogdon chats with Jordan Cash, an assistant professor at James Madison College, about the fascinating evolution of the presidency during the Progressive Era. They unpack Roosevelt’s stewardship theory, Wilson’s “Darwinian” approach to government, and the shift from seeing the presidency as a static institution to recognizing the dynamic potential of individual leaders. From the creation of the Executive Office of the President to the ongoing struggle of balancing power and constitutional principles, this conversation connects the dots between then and now.

Curious about how the presidency became what it is today—and where it’s headed? Hit play and join the conversation!

In This Episode

• (00:01:16) Guest Introduction
• (00:01:51) Progressive Era Concerns
• (00:03:14) Woodrow Wilson's Views
• (00:06:15) Stewardship Theory Explained
• (00:08:31) Roosevelt's View on Limits
• (00:10:31) Roosevelt's Decision to Leave Office
• (00:11:49) Roosevelt vs.Taft
• (00:13:49) Roosevelt's Larger-than-Life Persona
• (00:14:39) The Progressive View of the Presidency
• (00:15:24) Shift in Presidential Power
• (00:15:51) Wilson's Ambition for Presidential Power
• (00:16:55) Cabinet Government Proposal
• (00:17:29) Wilson's Early Thoughts on Governance
• (00:19:21) Changing Dynamics of Political Parties
• (00:19:59) Historical Context of Presidential Influence
• (00:23:07) Evolution of Party Primaries
• (00:24:59) Constitutional Impediments to Power
• (00:26:22) Brownlow Committee and Presidential Capacity
• (00:27:35) Creation of the Executive Office
• (00:28:45) Expansion of Presidential Power during Crises
• (00:31:07) Reorganizing the Executive Branch
• (00:31:49) Administrative Capacity vs. Functionality
• (00:32:56) Continuity in Presidential Roles
• (00:34:31) Constitutional Foundations of the Presidency
• (00:35:48) The Impact of Government Size

Notable Quotes

• [00:19:21] "It feels like the 20th century, with its new sort of ground in executive leadership, gave us more interesting, more colorful characters." — Matthew Brogdon
• [00:29:39] "The administration now becomes so big and in some ways loses that connection of responsibility to the president because there are just so many moving pieces that it's hard to keep track." — Jordan Cash
• [00:31:49] "Do we now have so much administrative capacity that we're in a position where the president still can't achieve his proper functions?" — Jordan Cash
• [00:35:48] "So we have a bigger presidency because we've got a bigger government essentially." — Matthew Brogdon

Our Guest

Jordan Cash is an assistant professor of political theory and constitutional democracy at James Madison College, Michigan State University. A passionate presidency scholar, he’s written insightful works like The Isolated Presidency and Adding the Lone Star: John Tyler, Sam Houston, and the Annexation of Texas. With expertise in the presidency and political institutions, Jordan also offers a deep dive into congressional history, making him a go-to source for understanding the inner workings of American governance.