Comparing Presidential Crises (Part One)
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry compares the Watergate episode during the Nixon presidency to the Lewinsky episode of the Clinton presidency. In Mr. McCurry's view, there is what he calls a "magnitude difference" between the two. "Pr...
Conflicts and Frustrations
Former Secretary of Labor and university professor Robert Reich talks about some of the challenges that come with the job of being a Cabinet department Secretary. One of these is trying to reduce government costs while, at the same time, implementin...
Face Time With the President
Former Secretary of Labor and university professor Robert Reich talks about the "...enormous competition in any White House, in any administration, for the President's attention." Secretary Reich says that, for the most part, he went through what he...
Gerald Ford: The Underrated President
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about former President Gerald R. Ford, whom he describes as being tremendously underrated. Secretary Baker explains that President Ford believed in doing what he thought was right, even if the political...
Treasury and the Federal Reserve, The
Director of the National Economic Council and former Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers talks about the importance of mutual respect between the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank. Secretary Summers recalls the close working relationship ...
First Hundred Days, The
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about how important the first hundred days are for any new Administration. He also explains how the Reagan team laid out a very precise plan for their first hundred days, and stuck to it.
Trouble With Tax Cuts, The
Director of the National Economic Council and former Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers argues that "there are real dangers in excessively large tax cuts because of an aging society (and) because we don't know what the needs in areas like ed...
The Power of the State
Philosopher John Searle argues that the power of the state is created by the fact that people are willing to accept it. He goes on to say that this is true with all of our social institutions. As an example, he mentions money, noting that if people ...
First Days As Press Secretary
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry talks about his first experiences as White House press secretary. Mr. McCurry recalls the apprehension and nervousness he felt initially, but says the break-in period was relatively easy because of his...
Staffing the Department of Labor
Former Secretary of Labor and university professor Robert Reich talks about the challenge of filling staff positions with political appointees in a Cabinet department. "You're talking about hundreds of people that have to be assembled fairly quickly...