Marc Selverstone is a presidential scholar.
He teaches and writes about the American presidency.
In 2025, that’s like being someone who studied ocean liners and icebergs in 1912.
That’s my analogy, not his.
Marc Selverstone
Selverstone — a 1980 graduate of Staples High School — is the University of Virginia Miller Center’s director of presidential studies, and co-chair of its Presidential Recordings Program.
The Miller Center is non-partisan. When we spoke on Friday, Selverstone chose his words carefully and judiciously.
But still …
In the 50 years since its founding the Center has examined tapes, conducted oral histories, convened panels, and embarked on many other projects. It gauges the trajectory of the presidency as an institution, and make recommendations to ensure its effectiveness in American life.
Neither Selverstone nor his colleagues have ever seen a presidency like the current one.
They are not journalists, writing about executive orders, negotiations and norms-breaking as they occur.
They are not pundits or talking heads, explaining it all on TV or podcasts.
Presidential scholars wait. They need access to documents, records, memoirs and other historical information, to examine and assess the success or failure of any particular administion.
But still …
In his first term, President Trump showed an unprecedented disregard for the Presidential Records Act. In many ways, his second administration is even less bound by tradition (and laws) than the first.
It’s clear, Selverstone says, that — unlike in 2017 — the Trump administration was ready to govern from Day One.
“They had a very clear sense of what they wanted to do in terms of policy and execution, and who they wanted to have involved,” he notes.
“That’s especialy true with their use of executive orders. There have been dozens already.
Since January 20, President Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders.
“it’s so hard to get things done through Congress. So presidents reach for executive power. Most presidents of a different party come in and reverse some orders of the previous president, and add some of their own. But this expands greatly on what other presidents have done in the first 100 days.”
Because Republicans control the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the White House, Trump can “flex his executive might as much as possible,” Selverstone says.
“His followers like that — even though, by and large, many Americans are concerned about too much executive power.”
Selverstone adds, “We’d be hard pressed int he modern era to identify another president who tiptoes to the line, to suggest that laws or courts might not matter.
While Congress is a co-equal branch of government, right now members are “not really holding the president’s feet to the fire, in areas like personnel and policy.”
In recent years, Selverstone says, the balance of power has shifted more to the executive branch. The Trump presidency had accelerated that trend.
In fact, he adds, “as Trump asserts authority over ndependent agencies in a way that makes some people uncomfortable, he seems to invite court challenges. Favorable rulings could expand his power even more. That to me is a very different presidency.”
Recent Supreme Court rulings have widened presidential power.
Meanwhile, the Federal Election Commission is, like other independent agencies, in Trump’s crosshairs. Its independence is no longer assured.
The norms being overturned now date back to the post-Watergate era, after Richard Nixon sowed fears about an “imperial presidency.” Selverstone is very familiar with that period, through his work with the Miller Center’s Recordings Program. He helped transcribe and analyze White House tapes that Nixon — among other presidents — made in secret.
“Whistleblower protection, inspectors general, the FBI — they’re all being neutered now. Not even Nixon would have done that,” Selverstone says.
President Nixon tested many presidential norms.
What does all this mean for Selverstone, and the Miller Center?
“We pride ourselves on being a non-partisan institution,” he says.
“We look at an array of challenges, and explore how the presidency addresses them in national life. As trust in government plummets, that’s of great concern to us at the center.
“We engage citizens from all walks of life, in both parties. We run programs that look at uses of presidential power, with people from both sides of the aisle.
“We convene scholars to think throught how we got here, what it means for us now, what might be done, and ask, will it stand the test of time?”
An important conference is set for the fall. Major figures from past administrations — Republican and Democratic — who “believe in good government” will offer insights into the past, present and future.
Based on the first 5 weeks of the administration of the 47th president of the United States, they’ll have plenty to talk about.
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what does he think about president musk?
Whites, especially white men with no college education, are being discriminated against and who better to solve this horrific injustice than a white male from South Africa! Musk’s power is unmatched. He stands in the Oval Office with his son as the son picks his nose on live TV and Trump does nothing! Now that’s power.
Musk and Bannon are giving the Natzi salute. Musk has been defending crimes by Neo Natzis in a Germany. Musk has been supporting Germany’s far right party. Wake up.
I urge everyone to watch 60 minutes on last nights episodes. Many republicans from the justice department and Consumer Bureau answered questions. Officials from the trump administration were asked to comment. They refused. Watch it. My opinion is America will get what it deserves. We are sleepwalking through the loss of democracy. Wake up.
consumer protection bureau
“Presidential scholars wait. They need access to documents, records, memoirs and other historical information, to examine and assess the success or failure of any particular administion.”
……………….But let me opine anyway with my personal agenda and negate any credibility I may have had as an unbiased observer. “Non partisan”….. Laughable.
you can watch 60 minutes from last night and hear what republicans in top Justice department said. There is a track record of many top republicans critiquing the Trump administration. You know that
Possibly this should follow the Orange march story that Dan has included. i hope there is an effort for a weekly demonstration at the Steinkraus Bridge that focuses on the many illegal actions of the Trump Administration. I am not an organizer, but certainly would join others to highlight the many actions taken by President Trump and his team to weaken, I would say destroy, our American system of government and the rule of law..
Take a look at the stock markets from last Thursday, Friday and today. We are entering “Stagflation “ like it was 50 years ago. The last one lasted 7 years. The stock markets HATE uncertainty and Trump has the lowest approval rating of any President in the first month of a term!
This historian is profoundly disturbed for the future teaching of History (and its sub-set American). (I’m looking at you, Prager U.-online & Hillsdale College-online as you try to bring back William Beveridge & the teaching of “Anglo-Saxon” race supremacy.)
Also, profoundly disturbed as “MuskTrump” went out of its way last week to shut down the JFK Library for several days with firings, but left both the Nixon & Reagan humming along, fine and dandy. (Can you say sadists?) 1st level techniques used by both the Hitler & Stalin regimes to recreate facts through BULLY INTIMIDATION.
Like everything we as a species do, HISTORY gets reinterpreted, 1st by the winners, then by The Others. But we start with facts. “Just the facts, ma’m, just the facts.”
The Historian Prognosticates: Word from the road sales people is orders are slowing significantly from now out to 6 months. Ghost housing inventory is growing across Florida, while Zillow has announced a down 2025 across the country. And, yes, as Jack Backiel noted above, Trump’s “Golden Fatted Calf” (the be-all/end-all of his feeble grasp of economics), Wall Street, is unhappy. And Warren sits on an ever growing pile of cash. Result? The Trump Recession/Depression is 9 months away, two quarters.
And now Trump has fired the senior JAG officers who are responsible for saying to all levels of brass, “NO, that is an unlawful order.” Huh. Well now. And he’s also fired the entire Joints Chiefs and wants a fighter jock, out of service for ten years, to be appointed Joint Chief. I think George C. Marshall would have some questions about that, like “Where’s this going, sir?”
Now where did Trump get all these ideas, ’cause making a buck to show Daddy he is the Best Child is all he really knows (other than his sadistic needs)?
THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION. (In large caps so as to make it, uh, plain.) Lawyers sworn to uphold the Constitution hell bent on destroying it through The Unitary Executive theory they’ve cooked up. Arthur Schlesinger called it The Imperial Presidency in his book (BOMC best-seller) and knew that that actually was a bad thing. The Heritage approach is an ABOMINATION. Aristotle, studying democratic constitutions, knew what that kind of thing was way back when: TYRANNY.
So, to conclude, if you are still registered as a Republican, even vote locally as a Republican, run for office as a Republican or otherwise support other people who do, then you support this ABOMINATION. You are anti-Founding Fathers. You are anti-“We The People.” You are anti-American.
But me no buts.
Best wishes.