Leader for a Nation: Beginning Days of a Presidency, The
Newly elected presidents are generally granted a brief honeymoon period in which to act without great resistance from Congress. In these early days, it is important to have a very clear plan, three or four critical goals the administration wants to ...
Leader for a Nation: Appeal of Divided Government, The
The challenge of leadership is easier if the president's party controls Congress. But in recent decades, government unified under one party's leadership has been rare. Many people believe that if you divide government you force the executive and leg...
Presidency and Fiduciary Responsibility, The
Presidential advisor, political analyst and university professor David Gergen talks about his experience working in the Clinton White House. He notes that, prior to the Monica Lewinsky episode, President Clinton was "...really working pretty hard to...
Presidential Leadership Qualities
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about the qualities that he believes make a president a good leader. Chief among them is commitment to values and principles, the ability to be decisive, and knowing when to compromise.
Leader for a Nation: Presidential End Runs
No member of Congress can compete with the ability of the president to get news attention. In recent years some presidents have elected to appeal to the American public for support of their policies rather than rely on their ability to bargain with ...
Leader for a Nation: Public Support for Presidential Policies
As long as the public is behind the president, it is difficult for Congress to ignore his initiatives. The presidential approval rating is a thermometer of the president's capacity to lead public opinion. Just after the election, a president's popul...
Cabinets and Presidents
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about the role of cabinet officers and White House staffers in presidential administrations. Secretary Baker explains that cabinet meetings are often more for show than anything else, adding that presid...
Character, Trust and Leadership
Presidential advisor, political analyst and university professor David Gergen talks about what makes some presidents great leaders. One of the most important factors is the ability to inspire trust through consistent, steady adherence to core values...
Coming to Terms with Watergate
Presidential advisor, political analyst and university professor David Gergen talks about the disillusionment he experienced as a loyal Nixon supporter after learning the details of the Watergate cover-up.
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...