Jimmy Carter and the Water Wars: Presidential Influence and the Politics of Pork

"So much of the literature on presidential influence on congressional voting relies on assertions and assumptions about presidential influence in Congress. This study measures actual presidential influence on a member by member basis. The discovery of the White House records on presidential calls to House members adds a whole new level of depth to our understanding of how the relatively unpopular Carter won those floor votes. This work adds broadly to the dynamics of presidential leadership in Congress. Jimmy Carter and the Water Wars makes a real contribution to the literature on presidential influence in Congress." - Lance T. LeLoup, Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Washington State University "Do you want to know how Washington really works? Read Frisch and Kelly's excellent and well-researched chronicle Jimmy Carter and the Water Wars. They bring to life the events surrounding a critical turning point in the Carter Presidency. This is required reading for anyone interested in presidential leadership in Congress." - Representative Butler Derrick, (D-South Carolina, retired) "Part political history, part political science, this engaging book does both well. Jimmy Carter and the Water Wars is an important addition to our understanding of the Carter presidency. It sheds new light on Carter's legislative leadership and, by focusing on the politics of pork, serves as a backdrop to ongoing debates over congressional expenditures. Combining qualitative and quantitative analysis, Frisch and Kelly not only tell a great story, but also systematically analyze the effect of Carter administration efforts to lobby members of Congress. The result is an important study of presidential influence in Congress." - John Anthony Maltese, Albert Berry Saye Professor of Political Science, University of Georgia