The Presidential Professors

About the Book

Behind the scenes, the people take center stage. In 1999, long before they became prominent figures in a historic presidential campaign, Brett McGovern knew Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his law professors. At Widener University School of Law, McGovern studied under then-Senator Biden in a course focused on constitutional law and the separation of powers. There, he examined the complex and often contentious boundaries among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government—including the “twilight zones” where their authority can collide. Only weeks later, McGovern joined Kennedy’s Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University School of Law. Through that experience, he gained firsthand insight into grassroots advocacy, environmental protection, and the citizen-suit provisions that empower ordinary people to hold powerful institutions accountable. Drawing on these extraordinary encounters, The Presidential Professors explores two distinct but interconnected arenas of public responsibility: constitutional overreach and environmental neglect. Through personal experience, legal analysis, and historical perspective, McGovern examines how leadership, courage, and civic engagement can shape public policy and protect the rights of the people. The book ultimately reveals a compelling truth: Whether government fails through an abuse of power or sheer inaction, the ultimate safeguard rests with the people.

About the Author

Brett McGovern is a Pennsylvania native, corporate professional, and licensed attorney admitted to the bars of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. He holds an environmental engineering degree from Lafayette College and earned a Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law. After beginning his legal career in private practice in Philadelphia, he transitioned to focus on environmental risk assessment for a multinational insurance firm, where he has served for over twenty-five years. He credits his years at Episcopal Academy with helping shape his commitment to the formation of mind, body, and soul. Brett regards his faith, his marriage, and his family as his greatest blessings and responsibilities. He lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with his wife and their four daughters.