This book is part of AEI's Landmarks in Contemporary Political Thought series. The books contain major writings by five of America's most distinguished political scientists and political theorists.

Herbert J. Storing was the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia, where he also served as the director of Study of the Presidency at the White Burkitt Miller Center for Public Affairs. He was also a member of the President's Commission on White House Fellows.