Toward a theory of institutional responsibility in presidential decision making. Introduction. Theoretical perspectives on presidential decision making in the American political economy. The evolution of the president as macroeconomic policy maker, 1908-46. A model of partisanship, institutional responsibility, and presidential decision making in the American political economy -- A test of the theory with four presidential case studies. Introduction. Democratic presidents and the Republican logic of anti-inflation policy. Republican presidents and the Democratic logic of unemployment policy. Presidents, electoral politics, and the logic of the political business cycle. Final thoughts on presidential decision making.