Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents Richard Neustadt

Modern Presidency Leader or Clerk? “‘Powers, ’ Neustadt argues, “are no guarantee of power;

Modern Presidency Leader or Clerk? Presidents have broad formal (and informal) powers, but they

Modern Presidency Defining Presidential Persuasion Presidential persuasion means more than simply charming the public.

Modern Presidency Defining Presidential Persuasion: “Vantage Points” Given the size of the modern executive

Modern Presidency Checks on Presidential Power and Ambition But the president is not the

Modern Presidency How Presidents Make Decisions Whenever presidents rely on the advice of others,

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“Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents” Richard Neustadt

Modern Presidency Leader or Clerk? “‘Powers, ’ Neustadt argues, “are no guarantee of power; clerkship is no guarantee of leadership. ” Truman on Eisenhower: Where Does the Buck Stop? “Poor Ike – it won’t be a bit like the army…he’ll say Do This! Do that! And nothing will happen. ”

Modern Presidency Leader or Clerk? Presidents have broad formal (and informal) powers, but they cannot simply dictate orders to others in government. Presidential Power: Power to Persuade To get something done, the president needs to make an argument.

Modern Presidency Defining Presidential Persuasion Presidential persuasion means more than simply charming the public. Rather, it depends on the exploitation of the assorted institutional “vantage points” that accompany the various presidential powers. Vantage Points: 1) Veto 2) Appointments 3) Publicity 4) Budgeting

Modern Presidency Defining Presidential Persuasion: “Vantage Points” Given the size of the modern executive branch, essentially everyone depends in some way on cooperation from the White House. “With hardly an exception, those who share in governing this country are aware that at some time, in some degree, the doing of their jobs, the furthering of their ambitions, may depend upon the of the president. ”

LBJ: The “Treatment”

Modern Presidency Checks on Presidential Power and Ambition But the president is not the actor in political process. Others (branches, agencies, organizations, states) have power. Power to Persuade: Power to Bargain Hence, what the power to persuade in fact means is the power to bargain.

Presidential Bargaining

Modern Presidency How Presidents Make Decisions Whenever presidents rely on the advice of others, they risk becoming dependent on that advice. Advisors: Options/Dangers 1) Tight Inner Circle: Nixon (One perspective) 2) Contending Factions: Clinton (Indecisive) 3) Ruling Cabal: Bush (Over Dependence)