Book · 2024 · Biography & Autobiography
Making the Presidency
John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic
Why people recommend it
Making the Presidency by Lindsay M. Chervinsky is a historical examination of the early American executive branch, focusing on John Adams and how he navigated the monumental task of shaping the presidency after George Washington. Yuval Levin appeared on The Ezra Klein Show on January 16, 2026, to evaluate the political landscape and the scope of executive power. During the episode, Levin offered several reading recommendations, pointing specifically to Chervinsky's book as a fascinating historical work. He noted that the author is a historian who explores the conceptualization of the presidency in the wake of the nation's first leader. Levin suggested that this historical inquiry offers valuable context that illuminates the contemporary political moment and sheds light on the structural evolution of executive authority in the United States.
Who recommended it
- Yuval Levin Recommended
Yuval Levin — 1 mention
“Second, I would recommend Lindseay Travinsk's book Making the Presidency, which is a work of history. Travinsky is a historian. It's a book about John Adams and the way in which he thought about the institution of the presidency in the wake of Washington. Really fascinating and also has a lot to offer us in understanding the contemporary moment.”