Preface and AcknowledgmentsI A New Historical Approach for Studying the Presidency and Policymaking1 Introduction2 A Theory of Historical Variation in Presidential ControlII A Quantitative Overview of Historical Variation in Public-Finance Policymaking3 Public-Finance Problems, Prioritization, Administration, and PolicyIII Historical Variation in Presidential Control during the New Deal Era4 Collapse: The Failing New Era Apparatus Limits Hoover's Control5 Innovation: Roosevelt Strengthens His Control in Restructuring the Policy Domain6 Stabilization: Truman Relinquishes His Control in Securing the Policy Domain7 Constraint: The New Deal-Era Apparatus Limits Eisenhowers ControlIV Historical Variation in Presidential Control during the Reagan Era8 Collapse: The Failing New Deal-Era Apparatus Limits Carters Control9 Innovation: Reagan Strengthens His Control in Restructuring the Policy Domain10 Stabilization: Bush Relinquishes His Control in Securing the Policy Domain11 Constraint: The Reagan-Era Apparatus Limits Clinton's ControlV Historical Variation in Presidential Control during the Great Recession and Beyond12 The Reagan-Era Apparatus Limits Obama's Control in Managing the Great Recession13 A Preliminary Examination of Trump's Control14 ConclusionAppendix: A Statistical Analysis of Public-Finance AdministrationNotesIndex