The Office of the President

1. The Office of the President Chapter 13

2. Constitutional Requirements • “natural-born citizen” • 35 years of age • Has lived in the U.S. for 14 years Bonus Question #1: Who was the youngest president to be ELECTED to office? John F. Kennedy (43 years-old) Bonus Question #2: Who was the oldest president to be elected to office? Ronald Reagan (69, reelected at 73)

3. Term of Office • Four years • Maximum of two elected terms (if VP serves less than half of President’s term can be elected twice, If VP serves more than half can only be elected once) • LBJ- succeeded JFK in 1963- could have been elected twice • Ford- succeeded Nixon in 1974- eligible to be elected only once. • Washington set precedent of only 2 terms but no official until 22nd amendment- due to FDR • VP takes over if impeachment, death, resignation, disabled, removal- 25th Amendment • Presidential Act of 1947- set up the way the succession line- Speaker, Senate President Pro tem, Sec of State, Sec of Treasury, Sec of Defense…then the other Cabinet secretaries in order of creation.

4. Salary Fun Fact: The President’s salary is determined by Congress and CANNOT be changed during the same term. $400,000 Bonus Question #3: Who were the only two presidents to refuse their presidential salary? George Washington and John F. Kennedy

5. Presidential Perks! • Salary • Travel and expense accounts • White House Residency • Staff of nearly 100! • Camp David vacation estate • The best doctors, dentists, & other health care providers • Jets, helicopters, Air Force One • Retirement package (salary and Secret Service protection for life) • Speaking Fees- Clinton charges up to $300,000 per speech • Memoirs- Clinton received $12 million advance • Can serve on Corporate Board of Directors- Gerald Ford • Taft- Chief Justice of Supreme Court after Presidency • http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/just-explain-it/just-explain-pays-presidential-perks-203926005.html

6. President’s Roles and checks- according to Constitution 1. Chief legislator- powers- proposes legislation, vetoes legislation, calls special sessions of Congress, Makes State of the Union Address to Congress - checks = congress need not pass legislation and can override veto 2/3 majority in both houses 2. Chief Executive- powers= enforces laws, treaties, court decisions, appoints officials to office (and fires), issues executive orders- do not need congressional approval - checks= Congress passes laws, power of the purse, Senate can reject treaties/appointments, House impeaches, Senate removes, Supreme Court can strike down Executive orders

7. 3. Commander in Chief- power head of the armed forces (a civilian in charge)- • checks= Congress appropriates military funding, Congress declares war, War Powers Act of 1973 (cannot wage war over 60 days without Congressional approval) • 4. Chief diplomat-sets overall foreign policy, appoints and receives ambassadors, negotiates treaties and executive agreements (agreements between heads of states- nuclear warheads, economic help), give diplomatic recognition to foreign governments • checks= Congress appropriates funds for foreign affairs, Senate can reject ambassadors and treaties • 5. Chief of State- the ceremonial head of our nation- tosses out the first ball of the baseball season, bestows medal of honor, visits areas struck by natural disaster.

8. 6. Chief Jurist- powers- appoints federal judges, issues pardons and amnesty. • Checks= senate can reject judicial appointments, senators can place holds on appointments

9. Non-constitutional roles • A. Head of Political Party- selects the party’s chairman of the national committee and VP nominee, political patronage • B. Chief Economist- responsible for overall health of economy, proposes federal budget (though Congress can alter it) • Analyze this: “The greatest source of presidential power is not to be found in the Constitution, but in politics and public opinion.”

10. Unwritten Traditions • All have been white (Obama is ½ white) • All have been Christian • Most have been from well-to-do families • Most are highly educated • Most have military experience • Most have been married Bonus Question #4: Who was the only Catholic president? John F. Kennedy Bonus Question #5: Who is the only president since 1900 to never attend college? Harry S. Truman

11. Test Your Knowledge! How many presidents have been Army Generals? 10 How many presidents total have we had throughout history? 44 Who is the first president to have been divorced? Reagan How many presidents were assassinated in office? 4 (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy)

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13. The Evolution of the Presidency • Constitutional Convention- how do we choose a leader • Monarch- president for life (Alexander Hamilton) • Plural Executive (voted in by all people) • Compromise- single, elected President with fixed term in office

14. Concerns • Fear of a strong President- would become a monarchy • No term limits (how long can one serve)- fixed with 22nd amendment (Washington set precedent two terms) • Weak President (fear of being a tool of Senate- b/c of ratification and confirmation powers

15. How do we elect a President? • First ideas • Congress elects president- but too much congressional dominance • Direct election- too much weight on large states, vote on passions, illiteracy was common and communication poor • Compromise – electoral College (activity) • People would have some input, both small and large state influence election, House can elect

16. The First Presidents • Washington • 1789 -1797 • Adams • 1797 - 1801 • Jefferson • 1801 - 1809 • Madison • 1809 - 1817 • Monroe • 1817 - 1825

17. Washington - Monroe • Modest Presidency- assumed Congress would take the leading role in new gov’t • All Active in Independence movement • All but Adams served two terms • All but Adams- Virginians • Development of Political Parties (Washington warned) • Only well respected men received appointments

18. Growth of the presidency1829-1837 • What president would expand the power of the Presidency? • Andrew Jackson • Use of Spoils System • Vetoed 12 Acts of Congress- most up to that point • Ignored Supreme Court- removal of Cherokee (evoked eminent domain)

19. Re-emergence of Congress1837-1932 • Congress re-established control • Of next eight Presidents after Jackson none served more than one term • Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson- only powerful presidents • During this time Presidency was seen as negative force = Cleveland’s 414 vetoes • Up until 1930’s = Strong personalities and crisis is what made president the central figure of government

20. Modern Day Presidency • FDR- creates powerful presidency • Foreign policies after WW 2- leads to increase • Cold War- Truman, JFK, LBJ, Nixon • 70’s after Nixon- Congress had some re-emergence of power • 80’s- Reagan restores power and prestige • 90’s- Bush-Clinton-economic bubbles, emergence in foreign policy, domestic policy changes • 2000’s- W. Bush, Jr- Global War on terrorism, broader control of foreign policy, economic crisis

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22. White House Staff

23. The White House Office Staff • In the past • Up until 1857- no personal secretary • Lincoln often answered his own mail • Cleveland answered the White House phone • 1901- Finally given Secret Service after McKinley assassinated • Now more than 500 people work in the White house Staff

24. The Executive Office of the President • White House Office/Staff- West wing of White house (immediate)- where the power is wielded • Always jockeying for influence- the closer to Oval office the better • President organizes his staff • 1. Circular (FDR, Carter)- Prez is the hub and assistants are the spokes • 2. Pyramid (Ike, Nixon, Reagan)- assistants report to Chief of Staff who then reports to Prez • Review organizational method in reading

25. Appointments to White House staff do not require Senate consent (example Chief of Staff) • Have a better degree of executive privilege protection • Presidents seek people who will be loyal- fewer divided loyalties as compared to Cabinet positions

26. Other Offices of Executive • OMB- prepares the annual budget and reviews federal programs • NSC- coordinates foreign/military policy • CEA- council of economic advisers (3 people)

27. The Cabinet • Heads of the Cabinet Depts and 6 others (OMB director, CIA director, White House Counselor, UN Ambassador, US Trade Rep, Director of Homeland Security) • Appointed with Senate Consent • Meet only at call of President (do not meet regularly) • Members of Congress cannot also be part of Cabinet (unconstitutional)

28. Divided Loyalties to President • Most are interested in enlarging or defending their cabinet • Who are they really loyal to? • President (who gives them their job) • Congress who funds their department • Client Groups- who depend on the department • To their employees in that department • Cabinet goals- make it larger more important but must fight for funding • President can only fire appointees but has little control of civil service employees- so has limited influence on Cabinet

29. Federal Positions

30. Who gets in? • The President has to fill many appointments but those appointed is small >10% • President depends on staff recommendations • Even though President is not too sure how well they will hold up in the appointment process.

31. So who are they? • Tend to come from private industry, universities, law firms, think tanks, Congress, state/local gov’ts • Most have some federal experience • Some alternate between jobs in the public sector and private sector (revolving door)- “in and outers” • What about the VP?

32. The Vice Presidency • Constitutional role: Pres. of Senate and Become president or acting President if office of Prez is vacant • Helps to gain votes in an election (George H.W. Bush choosing Dan Quayle from Indiana) • Little responsibility (given by President) • More recently, have taken an active role (“only a heartbeat away” from presidency) • Stepping stone to Presidency

33. 25th Amendment (1967) • Established procedures for dealing w/ pres. disability and filling V.P.

34. What else does the VP really do? • VP is often selected to “Balance the ticket” • Attend funerals of foreign leaders • Most have taken an active role in Foreign policy • Words of other • “the vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit” • “the most insignificant office ever conceived”- John Adams • “I do not choose to be buried until I am really dead”- Daniel Webster after refusing to be VP in 1848 • What role will they play now???

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36. Growth of Presidential Power • Where does president get his power? • Article II Section 2 • Other Non-Constitutional Roles

37. 1. Unity of the Office- one man as opposed to 535 member Congress • 2. Presidential Character and personality: strong leadership can have great impact.

38. 3. Growing complexity of Society: with a highly industrial and technological society, people have demanded that the FED gov’t play a larger role in areas of public concern: ex. Pollution, labor issues, air travel safety, the economy- thus the Executive Branch has grown to meet those public demands

39. 4. Congressional delegation of authority to Executive Branch: • Congress often writes broadly worded legislation- executive branch “fills in the holes” • Congress bows to presidential demands in time of economic or foreign crisis • President can proclaim necessary mandates after a large electoral victory (Reagan’s tax cuts after 1980 election)

40. 5. The Electronic Throne – “bully pulpit”- the use of the media casts the President into the public eye – special addresses, photo ops, sound bites, Saturday morning radio chats

41. 6. US a great superpower- since development of Cold War- US was placed into a virtual non-stop crisis situation- only President can deal with various foreign crisis.

42. 3 rules of thumb to maximize presidential power and effectiveness • A. Presidents need to get things done early in their terms when their popularity is high- since it declines over time “Move it or lose it” • B. “Avoid details”- don’t try too much. Concentrate on a few top priorities- (Reagan’s Tax cuts, higher defense spending) • C. “Cabinets don’t get much done, people do”- place more trust on getting things done with White House staff than Cabinet secretaries (divided loyalties)

43. Making Presidency Safe and Effective • What do we already know about the power of the office of the Prez? • Powers of the Prez are not as clearly defined as in Congress- Congress grants broadly worded powers • In times of emergency- power grows • In normal times has many checks and balances- yet we expect Prez to do so much • President has much power- and to what limit

44. Checks that weaken prez • Constitutional – Congress, Courts • How else do they check? • 1. Congressional leaders • 2. Cabinet members • 3. Bureaucrats • 4. Political Parties • 5. Interest Groups • 6. Media- “gotcha journalism”

45. 7. Appointment of special prosecutor- though still can be fired by President • 8. Use of impeachment • 9. Senators “holds” and filibusters of pres. nominations • 10. Divided gov’t • 11. More of a global society (must act in accordance to allies)

46. Can we strengthen Presidents powers? • Will we allow it? • 1. 6 year terms- w/no re-elections • 2. 2 or 3 presidents • 3. Give president power to dissolve Congress and call for new elections • 4. Allow members of Congress to take positions in Executive Branch • 5. No more split tickets- unified party tickets (President, Senator. Congressman)

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48. Congress vs. President • What we know: • 1. Congress supposed to be dominant force in gov’t • 2. Recently President more dominant • 3. Checks and Balances- supposed to be a conflict • 4. Members of Congress more interested in state and local, President represents more national interests- example- Yucca Mt. (NV members of Congress oppose- President supports

50. Where are there some other conflicts? • Different times of election (at one point could be united party and in 2 years divided gov’t) (Clinton 1992 Dems- and 1994 Rep • President’s office is united while Congress has 535 members that can be divided • Congress more cooperative in foreign policy and national security issues than domestic and economic issues (ex. Bailout plan)