"In this analysis of President Bill Clinton's first term in office, Charles O. Jones highlights the separation of powers established in the U.S. Constitution."--Jacket. "When Clinton was first elected in 1992, he fell into a familiar trap - the tendency of elected officials to take more responsibility for their proposed changes than can be institutionally or politically justified. Many of Clinton's initiatives, including his bold health-care program, were thwarted in Congress by the Republicans, who proceeded to capture majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the 1994 elections. The new Republican Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, then similarly miscalculated - by inviting responsibility for his Contract with America. Like Clinton, Gingrich raised expectations in spite of marginal political advantages. He also miscalculated the president's capacity for recovery."--Jacket. "As Jones demonstrates, only after experiencing the power of institutional checks and balances were Clinton and Gingrich able to generate important agreements on legislation."--Jacket.