Dwight Eisenhower. Jackson solved the dilemma justifying presiden- tial activism "in the name of limiting the activities of hierarchical institutions," such as the "monster" National Bank of the United States.
Although Ellis and Wildavsky give the modem presidents no formal grades, they do note that the performances by chief ex- ecutives in recent decades have provided grounds for praise as well as criticism. "Reports of failed presidencies have risen along with egalitarian...