The Presidency

1. The Presidency Powers, the Cabinet, and the Public

2. Presidential Leadership • Presidents who are considered “great”… • Manage a crisis • Demonstrate leadership as perceived by the public • Appoint quality officials • Set & clarify the national agenda • Achieve legislative agenda • Achieve success in foreign policy arena

3. Presidential Popularity • Factors that contribute to popularity • Party identification • How does the party in control appear to be handling the country? • Do independent voters feel more + about that party? • Economy • “It’s the economy, stupid” – Clinton’s campaign catch phrase in 1992 • Century worth of data supports it • War or Crisis • Voters rally around president in show of patriotism

4. Personal behaviors • Since Watergate, political opponents & media are quick to point out every potential flaw & mistake • Activities of Associates • Scandals involving relatives or friends in high places • Timing • Presidential “honeymoon” ensures the leader will popular at first • Second terms tend to witness lower popularity numbers

5. Presidents who demonstrated leadership during war &/or economic hardship • George Washington • Established tenor of the institution, set precedents • Established working relationship w/ Congress • Abraham Lincoln • Resolved issue of states’ rights • Office grew in power & influence • Theodore Roosevelt • “Square Deal” of reform, trust busting • “speak softly and carry a big stick” – foreign policy

6. Woodrow Wilson • World War I, proposed 14 Points, but unable to convince Congress to join the League of Nations • Franklin Roosevelt • Possibly most influential of 20th Century • Some say created first imperial presidency • New Deal to provide direct relief during Great Depression, 4 programs still exist • Commander in Chief during WWII • John Kennedy • New Frontier domestic program • Stood up to USSR during Cuban Missile Crisis • Public perception of change, strength in the presidency

7. Lyndon Johnson • Great Society – domestic program compared to New Deal, provided many services • Embroiled the country in Vietnam War • LBJ decided not to seek another term • Richard Nixon • Foreign policy accomplishments • Gradually ended Vietnam War • Détente (easing tensions) w/ USSR • Diplomatic recognition of China • But yet – Watergate

8. Ronald Reagan & George H.W. Bush • Credited w/ being catalysts in ending the Cold War • In office during demise of USSR • Bush’s vision of “New World Order” in middle of major policy making decisions • Bill Clinton • Balanced budget agreement • Longest period of economic prosperity in US History • George W. Bush • President who responded to 9-11

9. Presidential Character • Active-positive • Takes pleasures in work of office, easily adjusts to new situations & is confident • Active-negative • Hard worker but doesn’t enjoy the work, insecure in position, may be obsessive or antagonistic • Passive-positive • Easy-going, wanting agreement from others w/ no dissent, may be overly confident • Passive-negative • Dislikes politics & tends to w/draw from close relationships

10. Identify the Characteristic for each… • Taft • Eisenhower • FDR • Wilson • Truman • Nixon • Coolidge • Ford • Harding • Carter • G.W. Bush • Hoover • Kennedy • Reagan • L. Johnson

11. Presidential Powers • Article II • Powers lie in ability to persuade others through negotiation, influence, compromise • i.e. George W. Bush & VP Cheney argued for expanded powers for presidency in both foreign & domestic affairs • Powers categorized as executive, legislative, diplomatic, military, judicial, party

12. Executive Powers • Enforces laws, treaties, court decisions • Issues executive orders to carry out policies • Appoints/removes officials • Assumes emergency powers • Presides over Cabinet & executive branch

13. Legislative Powers • Annual State of the Union message (Constitutionally required) • Identifying problems, recommending policies, submitting specific proposals (presidential legislative agenda) • Expectation president will propose comprehensive legislative program to deal w/ national problems • Issues annual budget and economic reports • Proposes legislation & uses influence to get it passed • Calls for special sessions of Congress

14. Signs/vetoes bills • Primary tool used to influence Congress to meet president’s agenda priorities • Historically: 1454 (as of 2010); fewer than 200 overridden • Most vetoes: FDR (372), Cleveland (304), Harry Truman (180) • Pocket Veto • Occurs if president doesn’t sign a bill w/in 10 days & Congress adjourns in those 10 days • Used >1000 times • Reason: rush to pass legislation at time of planned recesses • Reason: Congress attach riders or amendments to bills – appropriations (called pork barrel legislation) • Becomes means of forcing presidents to accept legislation he would normally veto • Line Item Veto • Purpose: let president strike individual items from appropriations by Congress he considers wasteful spending • Goal: prevent Congress from increasing appropriations w/ pork • Brought to S Court – declared unconstitutional expansion of president’s veto power

15. Diplomatic Powers • Appoints ambassadors & other diplomats • Negotiates treaties & executive agreements • Meets w/ foreign leaders in international conferences • Accords diplomatic recognition of foreign gov’t • Receives foreign dignitaries

16. Military Powers • Commander-in-chief of armed forces • Has final decision making authority in matters of national/foreign defense • Provides for domestic order • Judicial Powers • Appoints members of federal judiciary • Grants reprieves, pardons, amnesty

17. Party Powers • Is recognized leader of the party • Chooses VP nominee • Strengthens the party by helping members get elected (coattails) • Appoints party members to gov’t positions (patronage) • Influences policies & platform of party

18. Limits (Checks) on Presidential Power • Congressional checks: • Override presidential vetoes • 2/3 vote of both houses • Power of the purse • Agency budgets must be authorized & appropriated by Congress • 1974: Congressional Budget & Impoundment Control Act • Denied president right to reuse to spend $ appropriated by Congress & gave Congress greater role in budget process • Impeachment • Approval of appointments • Legislation limits president’s powers • i.e. War Powers Act • Legislative vetoes – reject actions of president or executive agency by vote of 1 or both houses w/o consent of president • Declared unconstitutional by S Court

19. Judicial checks: • Judicial review of presidential actions • Political checks: • Public opinion • Media attention • Popularity

20. Power of Executive Privilege • Presidents have used separation of powers to claim status above scrutiny of Congress or federal courts • President can claim certain decisions, information, documents, secrets of executive agencies are private business of president’s staff & the military • Most famous – Watergate tapes

21. Presidential Directives • Executive order: • Force of law • Affect any federal agency • Many environmental policies, civil rights policies • Proclamation: • Ceremonial action, is NOT law • Memoranda: • Issued to specific agencies, usually for single projects, but they can affect the way that agency conducts its business

22. The Cabinet • Started by Washington • Some presidents also have unofficial advisors • Appointees • Need Senate confirmation • Play influential role in gov’t • Often friends or personal associates of the president • Only one – Robert Kennedy – was relative of the president • Practice stopped by law • Public looks for cross section of population • Only recently that full minority representation became common • First woman: Frances Perkins, appointed by FDR

23. Obama began “vetting” process • Reviewing credentials for appointees • Includes provision that no former lobbyist could serve in an office the lobbyist had earlier tried to influence • Called “team of rivals” b/c it included political opponents (i.e. Hillary Clinton) & Republicans

24. Currently 19 positions • Occasionally renamed (Dept of War to Dept of Defense) • Created b/c national issues (environment, energy, education, homeland security) are on high priority on national agenda • They are: • Vice President (doesn’t need Senate approval): Joe Biden • Treasury: Timothy Geithner • Defense: Leon Panetta • Attorney General: Eric Holder • Interior: Kenneth Salazar • Agriculture: Thomas Vilsack • Commerce: John Bryson • Labor: Hilda Solis • Health & Human Services: Kathleen Sebelius • Housing & Urban Development: Shaun Donovan • Transportation: Ray LaHood • Energy: Steven Chu • Education: Arne Duncan • Veteran Affairs: Eric Shinseki • Homeland Security: Jane Napolitano

25. Other executive positions have achieved Cabinet level rank without being “in” the Cabinet • White House Chief of Staff: Jack Lew • Environmental Protection Agency: Lisa P. Jackson • Office of Management & Budget: Jeffrey Zients (acting director) • US Trade Representatives: Ronald Kirk • US Ambassador to the United Nations: Susan Rice • Council of Economic Advisors: Alan Krueger • Small Business Administration: Karen Mills

26. Executive Office of the President • Created by FDR, 1939 • Today: • National Security Council: chaired by president • Lead advisory board in area of national & international security • Members include: VP, Sec. of State & Defense, director of CIA, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff • Role: advisory • Did conduct Iran-Contra operations • Council of Economic Advisors: individuals recognized as being leading economists • Approved by Senate • Help president prepare annual Economic Report to Congress • Outlines economic state of Union

27. Office of Management & Budget (OMB) is largest agency • Director appointed w/ consent of Senate • Responsible for preparation of federal budget, submitted to Congress each January • Oversees congressional appropriations • Tremendous policymaking ability b/c of budget recommendations • President’s direct link to other agencies • Helps prepare executive orders & presidential budget policy • Office of National Drug Control Policy • Recent addition • Appointed by president w/ consent of Senate • Responsibility of the agency to prepare recommendations on how to combat problem of drug abuse • Coordinates policies of other federal agencies • Office of Policy Development • Office of Science & Technology Policy • Council on Environmental Quality • Office of Administration • Office of US Trade Representative

28. White House Staff • Managed by WH Chief of Staff • Some claim he has inordinate amount of power b/c controls schedule of president • Advises president on daily basis • Key Departments • Office of Communications • Legislative Affairs • Political Affairs • Intergovernmental Affairs • Support services • Scheduling • Personnel • Secret Service • Policy Offices • National Security Affairs • Domestic Policy Affairs • Cabinet secretaries

29. Relationship with the Media • Using the “bully pulpit” – president sometimes able to dominate news cycle • President has great deal of access to TV • Primetime speeches • State of the Union Address • Makes weekly radio address • Press feels it necessary to have adversarial relationship w/ White House to maintain independence & integrity • Since Watergate, Nixon, Woodward & Bernstein, presidents have tried to control the media

30. WH attempts to manipulate media • Appearances designed to maximize message • Press secretary holds daily press briefings • Reporters given special invitations to interview president • Public opinion polls often reflect sentiment of press • Or the public believes press doesn’t ask tough ?s • Internet – 24/7 coverage of presidency • “media frenzy” – relentless coverage of presidential action, scandal • i.e. Clinton’s impeachment

31. The Vice Presidency • Traditionally seen as an office to be avoided by ambitious politicians • Constitutionally, 2 powers: • Preside over Senate, casting tie-breaking votes if necessary • Determine presidential disability under 25th Amendment, take over presidency if necessary • Formal qualifications = to presidency • Selection of nominee occurs at national convention when presidential nominee selects a “running mate” • Choice often influenced by party’s desire to “balance” the ticket • Assassination of JFK & attempts on Ford & Reagan led to more attention to who is VP • Today: given larger role in gov’t • Taking part in Cabinet meetings • Serving on National Security Council • Acting as president’s representative on diplomatic missions