Too often courses in American politics ignore the public policies that are the very stuff about which political forces contend. This book provides a comprehensive and insightful narrative about the actual course of public policy since the New Deal and therefore enables students to understand how policy and politics interact. I plan to use it in my American Politics course.

- Marc Landy, Boston College,

A historical discussion of public policy—unfortunately now widespread—is uniformed discussion. Andrew Busch rectifies this shortcoming with a balanced, thorough and incisive analysis of the variable course of US domestic policy since 1932. It’s essential reading for both scholars and students of American public policy and a welcome addition to many classrooms.

- Steven E. Schier, Carleton College,