By Loren Miller

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THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

• By Loren Miller

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THE PRESIDENCY

• No man will ever bring out of the Presidency the
  reputation which carries him into it. To myself,
  personally, it brings nothing but increasing
  drudgery and daily loss of friends.
• Thomas Jefferson

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THE PRESIDENCY

• As to the presidency, the two happiest days of
  my life were those of my entrance upon the office
  and my surrender of it.
• Martin Van Buren

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THE PRESIDENCY

• After the White House what is there to do but
  drink!
• Franklin Pierce

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THE PRESIDENCY

• After Vice President Truman heard about the
  death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, he said to a
  small collection of reporters
• Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now.

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THE PRESIDENCY

• All the president is, is a glorified public
  relations man who spends his time flattering,
  kissing, and kicking people to get them to do
  what they are supposed to do anyway.
• Harry Truman

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EVOLUTION OF THE PRESIDENCYChief Clerk
1789-1836

• Presidents perform administrative duties that
  Congress requests.
• Government is best that governs the least.
• Presidents focused their attention on foreign
  affairs while Congress focused on domestic
  matters.
• Madison found himself unable to fund the War of
  1812 and unable to raise an army.
• The Monroe Doctrine
• Congress forged key compromises on slavery and
  paid of most of the national debt.
• Andrew Jackson, an outsider, grabs the reins of
  government and remakes the presidency.
• Forced out Cabinet members who disagreed with
  him.
• Introduced the spoils system.

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EVOLUTION OF THE PRESIDENCYWeakened Presidency
1837-1900

• Andrew Jacksons popularity and energetic
  personality raised the profile of the office.
  However, those who followed Jackson (with some
  exceptions) reverted back to chief clerk.
  Exceptions include
• James Polk westward expansion used his power
  as commander in chief to instigate war with
  Mexico acquired California, Arizona and Oregon
  Territory.
• Abraham Lincoln blockaded southern ports
  suspended the writ of habeas corpus spent money
  without Congressional approval raised an army
  without Congressional approval.
• Abraham Lincoln reinterpreted Article II into a
  source of executive authority during emergencies.

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EVOLUTION OF THE PRESIDENCYThe Modern
Presidency 1901-1945

• As the United States industrialized and became a
  significant player in an interconnected world,
  the power of the presidency grew accordingly.
• Theodore Roosevelt used the office as a bully
  pulpit. He wanted to be the bride at every
  wedding and the corpse at every funeral.
• Bold assertions of presidential power The
  Stewardship Theory
• Breaks up corporate monopolies
• Initiates a Panamanian revolution
• Wins a Nobel Peace Prize (mediating Japan/Russia)
  settlement
• Sends fleet around the world
• First president to travel to a foreign country

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EVOLUTION OF THE PRESIDENCYThe Modern
Presidency 1901-1945

• Woodrow Wilson achieved some significant
  successes and suffered some great failures.
• Achieved industrial reforms
• Led the United States into World War I
• Led efforts to create a League of Nations
• Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal
• Permanent bureaucracies
• Social Security and unemployment insurance
• Use of the media to communicate directly with the
  publicfireside chats
• Lend-Lease Program prior to U.S. involvement in
  WWII (without consent of Congress)
• Gave Britain 50 destroyers in exchange for rights
  to build military based on British territory
  (without consent of Congress)
• The national government became the focus of power

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EVOLUTION OF THE PRESIDENCYImperial Presidency
Under Attack 1945-1980

• By the end of World War II, the presidency had
  become a very powerful office and emphasis on the
  cold war in the 1950s and 1960s added to the
  presidents power.
• The Truman Doctrine
• Sending troops to Vietnam
• Watergate, Richard Nixons resignation and Jimmy
  Carters inability to resolve the Iranian hostage
  situation frustrated the public and the
  presidency came under increasing attacks from
  Congress.

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EVOLUTION OF THE PRESIDENCYThe Contemporary
Presidency 1980-

• Following the Vietnam War and Watergate, the
  powers of the modern presidency has been
  diminished as the resources for presidential
  power fall short of the tasks he is expected to
  perform
• - divided government became the norm
• - a high national debt and budget deficits
  limited the expansion of federal programs
• What is required to succeed on the campaign trail
  is different from what is needed to handle the
  global demands of a modern president.

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LEGAL REQUIREMENTSFOR PRESIDENT

• at least 35 years of age
• have lived in the United States 14 years
• be a natural born citizen of the United States

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PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA

• Only divorced president Reagan
• Only bachelor president Buchanan
• Shortest Term Harrison (1 month)
• Largest President Taft (350 pounds)
• Smallest President Madison (95
• pounds)
• Youngest President Roosevelt (42)
• Oldest President Reagan (77)

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INFORMAL CRITERIAFOR PRESIDENT

• Political Experience
• 1868-1956 gubernatorial experience preferred
• 1960-1972 senatorial experience preferred
• 1972 to the present ???????
• Vice-president??

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INFORMAL CRITERIAFOR PRESIDENT

• Vice-president??
• VPs who became President by election
• 1800s Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren
• 1900s T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman,
  Nixon, Johnson, Bush
• Military Hero??

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THE VICE PRESIDENCY

• If Washington is called Mr. President, then you
  need to call me Your superfluous excellency.
• John Adams, our first Vice President
• The Vice Presidency is the most insignificant
  office that ever the invention of man contrived
  or his imagination conceived.
• John Adams

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THE VICE PRESIDENCY

• The Vice Presidency isnt worth a warm bucket of
  piss.
• John Nance Garner, one of FDRs Vice Presidents
• I do not propose to be buried until I am really
  dead.
• Daniel Webster, on not accepting the Vice
  Presidency

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THE VICE PRESIDENCY

• A little over a week ago, I took a rather
  unusual step for a vice president . . . I said
  something.
• Spiro Agnew, Vice President under Richard Nixon
• Look at all the Vice Presidents in history.
  Where are they? They were about as useful as a
  cows fifth teat.
• Harry S Truman, one of FDRs Vice Presidents

Eisenhower/Nixon
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THE VICE PRESIDENCY

• Once the election is over, the Vice Presidents
  usefulness is over. Hes like the second stage
  of a rocket. Hes damn important going into
  orbit, but hes always thrown off to burn up in
  the atmosphere.
• An aide to Vice President Hubert Humphrey
• The Job of the Vice President is to go to
  weddings and funerals.
• Harry S Truman

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THE VICE PRESIDENCY

• Possibly our worst Vice President was Thomas
  Marshall (Wilsons VP)
• As vice president, I am responsible
• for nothing and influential nowhere
• My job is like a monkey cage except
• that visitors do not offer me peanuts
• In his inaugural address he promised to
  acknowledge the insignificant influence of the
  office
• He once told a bodyguard that his job was
  pointless as
• no one every shoots a Vice President

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THE VICE PRESIDENCY

• Recent vice presidents have been given greater
  access to the president and have been given more
  responsibilities than earlier vice presidents.
• Al Gore and Dick Cheney
• Would Joe Biden have accepted the vice presidency
  unless he was given access and responsibilities?

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INFORMAL CRITERIAFOR PRESIDENT

• Executive Ability
• the ability to hire good people
• Ideology
• middle of the road

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INFORMAL CRITERIAFOR PRESIDENT

• Physical Stamina
• Mental Stability
• Knowledge of the Issues
• Nominated by one of the two major parties

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PRESIDENTIAL OATH

• I _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I
  will faithfully execute the office of President
  of the United States, and will to the best of my
  ability, preserve, protect, and defend the
  Constitution of the United States.
• -- Washington added So help me God and others
  followed this tradition
• -- Why do presidents have the choice of swear
  or affirm
• -- So Quakers could run for the office
• -- Only Franklin Pierce (1853) affirmed

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THE JOB OF PRESIDENT

• Act as Commander in Chief
• Negotiate Treaties
• Receive Foreign Ambassadors
• Nominate Top Federal Officials
• Veto Bills
• Faithfully Administer Federal Laws
• Pardon Persons for Federal Offenses
• Address Congress and the Nation

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WHAT WE LOOK FOR
What we Really Want
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THE BEST WORST

• THE BEST

• THE WORST

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt 2. Abraham Lincoln 3.
George Washington 4. Thomas Jefferson 5.
Theodore Roosevelt 6. Woodrow Wilson 7. Harry S
Truman 8. Ronald Reagan 9. Andrew Jackson 10.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
1. James Buchanan 2. Franklin Pearce 3. Warren
Harding 4. John Tyler 5. Andrew Johnson 6.
Millard Fillmore 7. William Henry Harrison 8.
Zachary Taylor 9. Chester Arthur 10. G.W. Bush
2011
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GREAT PRESIDENTS ARE

• Blessed with a great crisis
• Resolve the crisis in an innovative and creative
  way
• Leave a legacy

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CONCEPTS OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER

• Narrow (Whig Model)-- presidential power is
  limited to the specific grants of power
  enumerated in the Constitution
• Pre-TR and Taft, Harding and Coolidge
• Broad (Stewardship Model) -- presidential power
  is greater than what is enumerated in the
  Constitution
• the role of precedent

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PRESIDENTIAL CHARACTER

• What should we look for in a president?
• James David Barber, Duke University
• Presidential Character is the way a President
  orients himself toward life.
• Developed mainly during childhood
• Self-esteem underlies character.
• The better people feel about themselves, the more
  likely they will be able to accept criticism,
  think rationally, and learn on the job.

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PRESIDENTIAL CHARACTER

• Based on two dimensions
• 1. The amount of energy a person puts into being
  president
• active or passive
• Plays the roles of being president aggressively
• Rarely plays the roles of being president
  aggressively except during crisis
• 2. How a person feels about being president
• positive or negative
• Enjoys the job of being president flexible
• Unhappy in the job anxious

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PRESIDENTIAL CHARACTER
  Positive Negative
        Active           ADAPTIVE self-confident flexible creates opportunities for action enjoys the exercise of power, does not take himself too seriously optimistic emphasizes the "rational mastery" of his environment power used as a means to achieve beneficial results. COMPULSIVE power as a means to self-realization expends great energy on tasks but derives little joy preoccupied with whether he is failing or succeeding low self-esteem inclined to rigidity and pessimism highly driven problem managing aggression.  
    Passive   COMPLIANT seek to be loved easily manipulated low self-esteem is overcome by ingratiating personality reacts rather than initiates superficially optimistic. WITHDRAWN responds to a sense of duty avoid power low self-esteem compensated by service to others responds rather than initiates avoids conflict and uncertainty. emphasizes principles and procedures and an aversion to politicking.  

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PRESIDENTIAL CHARACTER
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PRESIDENTIAL ROLES
? Constitutional Powers
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LEGISLATIVE LEADER

• When does Congress follow the lead of the
  president?
• The Honeymoon Period
• International Crisis

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LEGISLATIVE LEADER

• When does Congress follow the lead of the
  president?
• The Honeymoon Period
• International Crisis
• Luck
• Commanding majority in Congress

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LEGISLATIVE LEADER

• When does Congress follow the lead of the
  president?
• The Honeymoon Period
• International Crisis
• Luck
• Commanding majority in Congress
• Skilled at manipulation (LBJ Treatment)

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NOTHING LIKE A GOOD CRISIS !
President Event
Increase in Approval

• Truman Korea Invaded
  9
• Eisenhower Egypt Seizes Suez Canal
  7
• Kennedy Cuban Missile Crisis
  13
• Johnson Bombing Halt of N. Vietnam
  14
• Nixon Vietnam Peace Agreement
  16
• Carter Hostages Seized in Iran
  28
• Bush Iraq Invasion of Kuwait
  20
• Clinton Invasion of Haiti
  5
• Bush September 11th
  38

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Presidents Under Unified Government
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Presidents Under Divided Government
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APPROVAL RATINGS
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APPROVAL RATINGS
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APPROVAL RATINGS
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APPROVAL RATINGS
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APPROVAL RATINGS
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APPROVAL RATINGS
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APPROVAL RATINGS
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APPROVAL RATINGS
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APPROVAL RATINGS
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Approval Ratings
Average High Low
Truman 45 87 23 Eisenhower
65 79 48 Kennedy 70 83
56 Johnson 55 79 35 Nixon
49 67 24 Ford 47 71
37 Carter 45 75 28 Reagan
53 68 35 H.W. Bush 61 89
29 Clinton 55 73 27 G.W. Bush
49 90 25 Obama 49 69 38
2012
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Why Approval RatingsGo Down Over Time

• Expectations rise in campaigns and are dashed as
  time limits resources
• Things get blamed, rightly or wrongly, on the
  president
• Major negative events influence how people
  evaluate presidents
• Press and media criticism accumulate over time

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PRESIDENTIAL AGENDA
New Requests to Congress
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VETO POWER

• Threat of a Veto
• Line Item Veto
• Only on money bills
• Supreme Court declared this unconstitutional in
  1997

Do Presidents Veto Many Bills?
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PRESIDENTIAL VETOES AND OVERRIDES
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PRESIDENTIAL VETOES AND OVERRIDES
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PRESIDENTIAL VETOES AND OVERRIDES
Only one two term president did not veto a single
bill . . . . Who was he?
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SIGNING STATEMENTS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS

• Signing Statement (do not have the force of law)
• When the president signs a bill into law, he may
  attach a statement which indicates how the
  executive branch wants the bureaucracy to
  interpret the law.
• Most often rhetorical but sometimes contrary to
  congressional intent
• Executive Order (they have the force of law but
  can be overturned by subsequent administrations
• Proclamation ceremonial
• National Security Directive and Presidential
  Decision Directive deal with national security
  and defense matters
• Emancipation Proclamation
• Integration of the Armed Forces

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of Significant Executive Orders
Louisiana Purchase Emancipation
Proclamation Japanese Internment Desegregation
of the Military Initiation of Affirmative
Action Creation of the Peace Corp Creation of
the EPA
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OPEN CLOSED POLITICS
Open
Closed

• State of the Union Message
• Special Message
• Veto Power
• Press Conferences

• Personal Contact
• Patronage
• Pork Barrel

Presidential power is the power to persuade
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State of the Union
The president shall from time to time give to
the Congress information on the State of the
Union . . . .
Article II, Section 3, Clause 1
1790-1934 Known as the Annual Message 1st
Radio Broadcast Coolidge, 1923 1st Television
Message Truman, 1947 The Longest Taft, 1910
(27,651 words) The Shortest Washington, 1790
(1,089 words)
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PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES
In Thousands
Obama
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PRESS CONFERENCES
President
Average Per Month
John Kennedy (1961-63)
1.9
Lyndon Johnson (1963-69)
2.2
Richard Nixon (1969-74)
0.6
Gerald Ford (1974-77)
1.3
Jimmy Carter (1977-81)
1.2
Ronald Reagan (1981-89)
0.5
George H. W.Bush (1989-93)
2.9
Bill Clinton (1993-01)
2.0
G.W. Bush (2001-08)
2.2
Obama (2009-12)
1.9
Press Conference

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COMMANDER IN CHIEF

• Lincolnian View -- an expansive view of
  presidential authority
• Wilsonian-FDR View -- an executive- legislative
  partnership in war leadership statutes passed
  giving broad powers to the president

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COMMANDER IN CHIEF

• The president is the ultimate decision maker in
  military matters
• Trumans decision to drop the atomic bomb
• Nixons invasion of Cambodia
• Reagan sent troops to Lebanon and to Grenada
• Clinton sent troops to Haiti and to Bosnia
• Obama sent special forces to Pakistan to
  assassinate Osama bin Laden

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PARTY LEADER

• The President is deprived of the advantage of a
  strong party organization that other heads of
  government enjoy
• Therefore, Presidents are heavily dependent on
  their own personal skills

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State Party Committees
County Party Committees
Municipal Party Committees
Precinct Party Committees
Private Clubs and Organizations
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CHIEF DIPLOMAT

• The Two Presidencies Thesis
• Receive Ambassadors
• Summit Conferences

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CHIEF DIPLOMAT

• Treaties and Executive Agreements
• Emergency Powers to be used during time of crisis
  (Inherent Powers)
• Lincoln suspended civil liberties at the start of
  the Civil War
• Lincoln called state militias into national
  service
• Truman seized the steel mills during the Korean
  War to prevent a strike (overturned by the
  Supreme Court)

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Treaties and Executive Agreements
Period of Treaties of Ex. Agreements
Johnson, 64-68 67 1,083
Nixon, 69-74 93 1,317
Ford, 75-76 26 666
Carter, 77-80 79 1,476
Reagan, 81-88 125 2,840
Bush, 89-92 67 1,350
Clinton, 93-00 209 2,048
Bush, 01-08 147 1,990
Obama, 09-11 11 611
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DOMESTIC PROVISIONS

• . . . he shall take care that the laws be
  faithfully executed . . . . (Art. II, sec. 3)
• In re Neagle
• Inherent Executive Powers
• Presidents have assumed inherent powers (not
  specifically mentioned in the Constitution).
• Jeffersons purchase of Louisiana
• Bushs suspension of civil liberties of foreign
  nationals held in military prison at Guantanamo
  Bay

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DOMESTIC PROVISIONS

• . . . and he shall have power to grant
  reprieves and pardons for offenses against the
  United States, except in cases of impeachment.
  (Art. II, sec. 2)
• -- amnesty (blanket pardon)
• -- Andrew Johnson gave amnesty to all
• former Confederate soldiers
• -- Jimmy Carter gave amnesty to Vietnam
• era draft resisters

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PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS

• Can a pardon be rejected?
• -- if you accept a pardon that is an admission
  of guilt
• When does a president give most of their pardons?

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PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS
Per Year
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PUBLIC LEADER
With public sentiment, nothing can fail without
it nothing can succeed. Abraham Lincoln

• Presidents are news . . . Even when they do
  nothing
• Presidents keep their eyes on public opinion
  polls
• Trial Balloon

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IS IT TOO MUCH FOR ONE PERSON?

• The responsibilities are awesome
• There is no vacation
• The remuneration is poor

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IS IT TOO MUCH FOR ONE PERSON?

• The president fulfills two roles that, in other
  nations, are performed by two different people
• Head of Government
• Chief of State

The office of President is such a bastardized
thing, half royalty and half democracy, that
nobody knows whether to genuflect or spit.

Jimmy Breslin