Presidency Part 2

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The Presidency (Part 2)Michael P. Fix

Models of Presidential Power

Models of Presidential Power

Whig Model

President should take a passive approach to government policy,

deferring to Congressional

leadership.

Images from www.wikipedia.org

Models of Presidential Power

Stewardship Model

President should take an active approach, leading in both national politics and international affairs.

Models of Presidential Power

The Modern Presidency

Barber’s Presidential Character Types

Active-Positive Active-Negative

Passive-Positive Passive-Negative

Barber’s Presidential Character Types

Active-Positive

Images from www.wikipedia.org

Barber’s Presidential Character Types

Active-Negative

Images from www.wikipedia.org

Barber’s Presidential Character Types

Passive-Positive

Images from www.wikipedia.org

Barber’s Presidential Character Types

Passive-Negative

Images from www.wikipedia.org

Informal Presidential Powers

Informal Presidential Powers

Political Scientist Richard Neustadt argues that a president’s formal powers are relatively minor. A president’s real power lies in informal powers derived from personality and political skills.

Informal Presidential Powers

The Power to Persuade

The resources of the president’s office makes available many tools to make persuasion effective:

•The prestige of the office

•Personal charm

•Fear of retaliation

•Bargaining ability

Informal Powers of the President

Going Public

The emergence of radio and television has given presidents the ability to get their message directly to the American people.

The President and Public Opinion

Presidential Approval

Presidential Approval

Images from www.bluejacket.com (left) and www.cartoonstock.com (right)

Presidential Greatness

What qualities make a

president great?

Presidential Greatness

Vision, Pragmatism, Consensus Building, Charisma, Trustworthiness

The Vice-Presidency

The Vice-Presidency

• The only Constitutional Power of the Vice-President is the position of President of the Senate.

• All other responsibilities are at the president’s discretion.

The Vice-Presidency

• Historically, presidents gave little power to their vice-presidents.

• As such the office mostly consisted of ceremonial duties: • Attending important funerals• Dedicating bridges and parks• Presiding over the Senate on important

occasions and when ties were expected

The Vice-Presidency

“. . . the most insignificant office

that ever the invention of man contrived or his

imagination conceived”

John Adams

1st Vice-President

Image from wikipedia.org

The Vice-Presidency

“Once there were two brothers. One went

away to sea; the other was elected Vice-

President of the United States. And nothing was ever heard of

either of them again”Thomas Marshall

28th Vice-President

Image from wikipedia.org

The Vice-Presidency

“ . . . not worth a pitcher of warm

piss.”

John Nance Garner

32nd Vice-President

Image from wikipedia.org

The Vice-Presidency

“. . . heartbeat away from the presidency”

The Vice-Presidency

The increasing role of the vice-president

Increasing Role of the Vice-President

From wikipedia.org

When Harry Truman became

president upon the death of F.

Roosevelt, he knew nothing of the

development of the Atomic Bomb.

Increasing Role of the Vice-President

Walter F. Mondale

42nd Vice-President

Al Gore

45th Vice-President

The

Vice-

President

as part of the

president’s

inner

circle

Increasing Role of the Vice-President

Arguably the most powerful vice-

president in U.S. history. Dick

Chaney was one of the closest advisors to

President George W. Bush

Dick Chaney

46th Vice-President

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