Government by Committee: Presidency, a Position With Sparse Constitutional Direction, the
The writers of the Constitution had a basic idea of what they wanted in a president: a national leader who would carry out the law of the land, a statesman who could negotiate with world powers; a commander-in chief in times of conflict. It was impo...
Government by Committee: Intense Competition: Campaign for the White House
The intense competition that surrounds the campaign for the White House intensifies as the general election nears. Robert Reich calls it "warfare without blood." It is difficult to predict what will make a presidential campaign successful. Despite t...
Government by Committee: White House Staff, The
In the long shadow of history, the White House staff is a relatively new aspect of the office. When George Washington wanted a letter written he summoned Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to take dictation. With the expansion of U. S. government d...
Leader for a Nation: Factors Beyond a President's Control
When the American public assesses the president's job performance, cautions presidential scholar Sam Kernell, "we need to keep in mind that presidents don't really call the shots." Pressure groups, ideological differences within their own party, una...
Leader for a Nation: Challenging Office, A
As the president becomes less of an administrative leader and more of a policy advocate and agenda setter, public support becomes necessary to success. The person who occupies the Oval Office tends to get too much credit when things go well and too ...
Living Constitution, The: Limitations on the Power of the People
The very basis of government as it is established in the United States suggests that people have the power to govern themselves. The Framers agreed that the majority should rule but that all voices should have a chance to be heard. In order to prote...
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...
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: Accidental President, The
Theodore Roosevelt becomes the youngest man to assume the presidency when William McKinley is assassinated in 1901. Although in journalistic histories he is often portrayed as an impulsive, immature figure, Roosevelt is actually astute and intellect...
The Fourth Estate: Controlling the Message
A free press is essential to a democratic society. It alerts citizens to events that will affect their lives and provides a channel through which political leaders can reach the public. Congress received as much press attention as the President in t...