This book utilizes a theoretically informed framework for analyzing the effectiveness of the president's economic rhetoric and employs an empirical assessment that measures rhetoric's effect on economic actors. The analysis suggests that the rhetoric presidents use has little influence in shaping the behaviors of these economic actors.

Chapter 1: Presidential Rhetoric and the Economy
Chapter 2: Ascertaining Presidential Influence with Economic Actors
Chapter 3: Presidential Rhetoric and the Federal Reserve
Chapter 4: Presidential Rhetoric and Public Perceptions
Chapter 5: Congressional Actions as Preeminent Economic Leadership
Chapter 6: Conclusions