Themes from the 70s
1: The Diminishing of the Presidency
The American President occupies the most powerful office in the world. He is both head of state and head of government in the most powerful and prosperous country in history. But during the last decade, the institution of the Presidency has been gravely weakened. Under Richard Nixon , Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter , it has lost the capacity to organise support for its policies in the Congress. It has lost, too, the automatic hold upon the affection and respect of the American people that was once thought the President's entitlement.
Charles Wheeler presents a programme which traces this weakening of the institution back to the debacle in. Vietnam and the disgrace of Watergate. Producer
ANDREW JOYNES