This eight page undergraduate paper examines the American presidency through the eyes of historians Arthur Schlesinger and Richard Neustadt. The author notes that in his book, The Chief Executive, noted presidential historian Arthur M. Schlesinger has carefully studied the American presidency and provides many political and practical insights into the functioning of the executive branch throughout American history. Unlike Richard E. Neustadt in Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents, Schlesinger focuses more upon the American presidency in terms of how an incoming presidentÂ’s inaugural address can set the ideological and political tone for their administration and establish their priorities. Both books are essential reading for anyone interested in the American presidency, for they each provide scholarly analyses of presidents and how they seek to govern.