Presidential Powers Book

This is a 'serious' history studying the origin of the Presidency, through the eyes of the Constitutional Convention. It has always fascinated me that while they gave weeks and weeks attention to the legislative branches, the courts, and the interactions between the three branches of the proposed government, when it came time to discuss the powers of the presidency the Founders essentially punted. They put it off to the end of the summer, they were hot, tired, and ready to go home, and everyone knew that Washington was going to be the president anyway.

The Convention delegated a committee with coming up with Article II (outlining the powers of the presidency) and approved their recommendations without much debate. James Madison was much more interested in workings of the three phases of his proposed government, leaving Gouverneur Morris and James Wilson to flesh out the presidency.

I liked reading Madison's notes on the Convention in conjunction with E Pluribus Unum while on the boat for the everyday workings of the convention.