The modern American presidency was shaped in the first half of the twentieth century by events such as World War II and the Great Depression. These led to a greater institution for the President to cope with America’s new superpower status, and to enable him to fight domestic and foreign policy battles in an increasingly active way.
Today, the President is largely responsible for conducting the nation’s international policy and managing its largest military. As the commander in chief of the United States Armed Forces, the President has tremendous power at his disposal — manifested in large military budgets and global military presence, intelligence-gathering agencies, and the briefcase that contains the codes to launch nuclear attacks on foreign targets.
Domestically, the President is expected to work collaboratively with Congress on legislative priorities and to deliver a State of the Union address that outlines goals for the next year. In fact, a major component of any President’s legacy is inextricably linked to the success or failure of a legislative agenda. Some of the most successful Presidents, like Franklin Roosevelt and Social Security and Lyndon Johnson and civil rights, are remembered for their success in Congress.
In addition, the President is often tasked with creating and maintaining the legislative framework for his own policy initiatives — such as tax cuts and regulation reductions, energy independence, replacing NAFTA, and creating the Space Force. These efforts are bolstered by the President’s ability to veto bills that Congress passes, giving him significant control over the nation’s legislative agenda.