Government by Committee: Guiding the Ship of State
The White House is a difficult place to manage, but with so many layers of staff, it will go on even if the president chooses not to engage in the day-to-day workings of government. "The office is difficult to occupy if you want to be a great presid...
How Presidential Campaigns Have Changed
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about the ways presidential campaigns have changed since he was the campaign manager of the Gerald Ford presidential campaign in 1976. "Political candidates have any number of ways to appeal to the vote...
Leader for a Nation: Art of the Possible: Negotiating for Success, The
The design of the U. S. government makes it almost inevitable that there will be tensions between the legislative and executive branch. Different presidents have dealt with this problem in different ways, depending on their margin of victory and how...
Leader for a Nation: President's Relationship with Congress
As the only nationally-elected official, the president can direct public attention to a particular issue or program. But will Congress follow the president's lead? Mickey Edwards and Gary Jacobson compare the relationship between the president and C...
Campaign Finance (Part Two)
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about the role money plays in campaigns. He says there's nothing wrong with candidates having to go out and raise money, arguing that if a candidate is unable to do so, he or she is not really a viable ...
Campaign Finance (Part One)
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker talks about campaign finance reform. Secretary Baker advocates raising the amount one can contribute to a federal race, because doing so would lessen the influence of "soft money" on political campaigns. He a...
Campaign Primaries
Talking about the arduous road to the White House, former Secretary of State James A. Baker suggests a system of regional primaries, "...so that the states don't keep jockeying to be the first...extending the process, making it ever and ever longer."
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.
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...