The Presidency

Powers, the Cabinet, and the Public

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

Presidential Popularity Factors that contribute to popularity

1. Party identification How does the party in control appear to be handling the

country? Do independent voters feel more + about that party?

2. Economy “It’s the economy, stupid” – Clinton’s campaign catch phrase

in 1992 Century worth of data supports it

3. 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

5. Activities of Associates Scandals involving relatives or friends in high places

6. Timing Presidential “honeymoon” ensures the leader will

popular at first Second terms tend to witness lower popularity

numbers

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

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

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

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

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

Identify the Characteristic for each… Taft

Eisenhower

FDR

Wilson

Truman

Nixon

Coolidge

Ford

Harding

Carter

G.W. Bush

Hoover

Kennedy

Reagan

L. Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Judicial checks: Judicial review of presidential actions

Political checks: Public opinion Media attention Popularity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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