LEADERSHIP AND DECISION‐MAKING

Variant of Eisenhower postrevisionism has emerged, accepting the basic tenets of the 'hidden-hand' thesis. This chapter traces these broad contours in the evolution of scholarship on Eisenhower's leadership and decision-making, adopting a roughly chronological approach. Although by no means an exhaustive synopsis of the growing literature, it highlights several of the most important and contested themes and provides an overview of the president's organizational arrangements, philosophy of government, and key policy advisors. The chapter also addresses two relatively understudied aspects of Eisenhower's presidency, at least by historians: his role as leader of the Republican Party and his relationship with the mass media. Finally, the chapter also addresses several examples of what might loosely be termed postrevisionist scholarship, studies of Eisenhower's role in such areas as civil rights reform, legislative leadership, and even national security affairs that acknowledge the president's deep involvement but question both the effectiveness and long-term legacies of his leadership and decision-making.