Immigration, Nuance, and a Leonhardt Vault Cut

This book traces the rise and fall of the American Dream, focusing on how democratic capitalism flourished in the mid-20th century to make the dream possible, only to be corrupted in the latter decades to serve the privileged few. Leonhardt examines the economic changes, labor laws, and government policies that contributed to this shift. He critiques both the right's championing of corporate greed and the left's abandonment of working-class issues, highlighting key figures and grassroots movements that shaped the American dream. The narrative is rich in innovation, grit, and hope, offering a diagnosis of America's socioeconomic malaise and suggesting ways to revive the dream through public investment, collective bargaining, and civic activism.

This book is an authoritative exploration of the second US presidency, a period critical to the survival of the American republic. Through meticulous research and engaging prose, Lindsay Chervinsky illustrates the unique challenges faced by John Adams and shows how he shaped the office for his successors. Adams, one of the most qualified presidents in American history, had been a legislator, political theorist, diplomat, minister, and vice president but had never held an executive position. He relied on his ideas about executive power, the Constitution, politics, and the state of the world to navigate the hurdles of the position. Adams defended the presidency from his own often obstructionist cabinet, protected the nation from foreign attacks, and forged trust and dedication to election integrity and the peaceful transfer of power between parties, even though it cost him his political future.