Presidency, The: Challenges of Governing
Presidential advisor, political analyst and university professor David Gergen talks about some of the factors that have changed the fabric of political institutions in America and made governing more difficult than ever ..
President Clinton's Management Style
Former Secretary of Labor and university professor Robert Reich talks about President Clinton's love of ideas and inclination to talk with people at all hours, often for far longer than originally planned. As a result, S..
Presidential Campaigns
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry talks about the presidential campaigns with which he's been involved. "If it's someone you would really want to see as President," Mr. McCurry says, "...then it's worth...g..
Presidential Flaws
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry explains that all Presidents have flaws in one way or another, because every human being is flawed. "The problem," according to Mr. McCurry, "...is that we just in the last..
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..
Press Secretaries and the Press
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry talks about the inherently adversarial relationship between White House press secretaries and the press, but notes that, "...it (can) also be an amicable relationship, a pr..
Press Secretary Jobs
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry recalls his two press secretary jobs during the Clinton administration, and says that he greatly preferred his stint as State Department spokesman over his job as White Hou..
Pressure Politics: Benefits of Organizing for a Cause
Coming together with people of like minds has benefits of its own, benefits that go beyond the issue or cause in question. It allows people to feel connected. The greatest challenge is whether or not a group, whatever th..
Pressure Politics: Building Coalitions Across Racial and Socio-Economic Divides
Do the efforts of lobbyists and interest groups enhance or undermine the collective interest of the larger community? That is a difficult call because the United States is made up of so many different communities and gro..
Pressure Politics: How Big Business Promotes Its Agenda
The financial resources of big business allow them to organize mass numbers of people, hire experienced lobbyists and researchers, and support congressmen friendly to their causes. Consequently, the overall success of th..