The Presidency: Checking the Balances

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The founding fathers granted the President a little edge, something Alexander Hamilton called "the vigor of the executive authority." The capital now awaits the exercise of that authority. Reagan is the only person right now who can set an agenda, who can define national priorities and avoid a Government gridlock that is too near to dismiss. "There is a crisis," says Jim Jones. "Reagan has got to define that crisis for the nation." Reagan spent most of the campaign painting a picture of national wellbeing, so these next weeks will require a large measure of tact and political suppleness. If he succeeds, he will have mastered Mr. Madison's system of checks and balances.