Last Word: Test Wednesday

1. FrontPage: Who was the greatest president? Why? "Today in Washington, President Obama met with leaders of the American Indian tribes and they honored the president by giving him his own Indian name: 'Running Deficit.'" –Jay Leno "The CEO of The Cheesecake Factory is now warning that Obamacare will be very costly. Hey, The Cheesecake Factory is one of the reasons we need Obamacare in the first place." –Jay Leno "A record number of people are naming their babies after Apple products. It's the perfect way to tell your newborn, 'We’re planning to replace you in 6 months.'" –Conan O'Brien "McDonald's just announced that it's bringing back the McRib later this month. Or, as the Mayans put it, 'Hey, we tried to warn you.'" –Jimmy Fallon "Barbara Walters has released part of her 'Most Fascinating People' list. This year Hillary Clinton and Honey Boo Boo are both on it. That's right. The woman who may soon be president – and Hillary Clinton." –Jimmy Fallon Last Word:Test Wednesday

2. Presidential Greatness A Question of Style

3. Who were the all-time greatest Presidents? President’sNameRank • *Bill Clinton 15 • *Ronald Reagan 10 • Harry S. Truman 5 • Theodore Roosevelt 4 • Franklin D. Roosevelt 3 • George Washington 2 • Abraham Lincoln 1 Source: C-SPAN historian survey

4. Who were the worst presidents in American history? President’sNameRank • Warren G. Harding 38 • William Henry Harrison 39 • Franklin Pierce 40 • Andrew Johnson 41 • James Buchanan 42

5. Categories used in the C-SPAN survey • Public Persuasion • Moral Authority • Relations with Congress • Performance Within Context of Times • Crisis Leadership • International Relations • Vision/Setting An Agenda • Economic Management • Administrative Skills • Pursued Equal Justice For All

6. The man and the moment…. “…it is of course necessary to recognize that the man and the era, or events, must meet if true greatness is even to be possible. It is self-evident that Washington, Lincoln and FDR all faced enormous challenges. To succeed was to triumph, to fail was to be politically inept. It would be probably true to suggest that one or more ‘average’ presidents might have emerged in ‘great’ or ‘near great’ ranking had his era furnished him with dynamic challenges or exceptional opportunities… In ranking great presidents, one is compelled to keep in mind the old cliché of politics, ‘The man and the moment have met.” C-SPAN Presidential Historian Survey

7. What makes a president great ? • 3 different factors: • Presidential Style – how they view (and use) their power, and their management perspective • Leadership Qualities – you either have them or you don’t… • **Opportunity – • are you feeling lucky, punk?

8. Presidential Style – • Under the control of the president **A president’s style is determined by his views on… • Power • Management

9. Views of Presidential Power Under the control of the president • Strict Constructionist (Hoover) • The belief that the Constitution provides only a limited amount of power to a president • Considered a weak view of power Vs. • Loose Constructionist (FDR) • Belief that the President should stretch the powers of the presidency in order to meet the needs of the nation • Considered a strong view of power

10. Managing the Presidency Under the control of the president • “Detail- oriented (Jimmy Carter) • Involved in most small details of policy (micromanager); vs. • “Big - Picture” (Reagan) • Avoid getting involved in the small details of policy; Rely on advisors and make “big decisions”

11. Leadership Qualities *Possessing/lacking these qualities can contribute to success /failure. • Understanding the public • Ability to communicate • Sense of timing • Openness to new ideas • Ability to compromise • Political courage

12. Opportunity • How do they handle events during their presidency? • Not under the control of the president • **Wars, depression, inflation, economic boom, terrorism, etc.