02 16 2012 I Person of President and depression Enormous power in one person office A B How they operate in a complex and uncertain environment which leads to stress fatigue C Do characteristics of individual president s matter Whom do we want in the White House Whom to avoid 1 You want decisiveness intelligence capacity for growth and integrity 2 Greenstein would argument we need to look at their public communication organizational capacity political skill vision cognitive style and most importantly emotional intelligence 1 We want a president who emerges from the common typical person not born to D The Log Cabin Myth wealth E Framers people including future presidents are inherently selfish 1 Hope that the Constitution checked the President 2 In their slow paced world a wicked and mad president could only do limited harm before checked electoral defeat or impeachment 3 Does their logic and hopes still apply 4 Destructive powers of modern presidents are swift and ultimate 5 Impeachment process is uncertain and slow the electoral college does not provide for peer review and the rise of national media as a tool do a demagogue and the ever looming threat of nuclear weapons II Personal basis of Presidential power A Neustadt says 1 He must be good at persuading and bargaining 2 The power to persuade rests on i Professional reputation ii Public prestige B James David Barber says 1 Personality performance C Important personality components 1 Character i How does this person orient himself towards life a Vital factor Self esteem 2 Political style i How does this person perform at political roles a Rhetoric public speaking ii personal political relations iii homework handle information and details and work hard 3 Worldview i View of human nature social causality ect 1 How much energy does the president invest in the job III Two broad dimensions of personality A Activity passivity B Positivity negativity affect 1 Does the president enjoy the job IV 4 personality types A Active positives work hard enjoy the job 1 High self esteem relates well flexible with big goals B Active negatives work hard hates the job 1 Can become compulsive presidency a struggle C Passive positives D Passive negatives 02 21 2012 I Read further reading for chapter 1 pg 292 to 297 in the Greenstein book A For homework assignment II Which personality type is most desirable dangerous A Active positives are desirable B Active negatives are dangerous 1 Inability to admit failure weakness i May fixate on failing line of policy ii Johnson and Vietnam Nixon and Watergate C External events and conditions are more important than personality III Clinton active or passive positive or negative A Active positive may suffer from self idealization too high as sense of self esteem B Will take high risk taking behavior in personal life 1 Had no model of limits on behavior 02 23 2012 I Reshon s summary of character style A Ambition B Integrity ideas and values C Relatedness D Obama Politics of redemption through an organizing lens of fairness II Grenstein s qualities that relate to presidential performance A Public communication B Organizing capacity C Political skill D Vision E Cognitive style F Emotional intelligence 02 28 2012 1 For Greenstein emotional intelligence is key to a presidents ability to manage his or her emotions and turn them to constructive purposes rather than being dominated by them and allowing them to diminish his or her leadership I Public approval in real time ranking A Gallup do you approve or disapprove of the way the president is handling his job B Role of time in public approval 1 Honeymoon period followed by decay coalition of minorities C Role of the economy 1 Republicans are more responsive to inflation 2 Democrats are more responsive to unemployment D Role of international events US troops being sent into combat E Role of Scandal F Cronin s paradoxical expectations II Kernell s going public 1 Unpopular prolonged war vs rally events like killing of Bin Laden start of a war or A Leadership strategy involves public appeals generalized force pressure on other politicians coercive strategy costs penalties 1 A bully in the pulpit of the presidency 2 Differs from Neustadt s public prestige which enhances the president s ability to persuade bargain other in DC III Why How A Advances in technology and transportation B Outsider presidents with weak ties to the party and DC and inexperienced at bargaining persuasion experienced at appealing to the public C More difficult to bargain in modern DC 1 power dispersed divided government is the norm IV Explosive growth in A Minor addresses local audiences B Public appearances C Presidential travel 1 A lot of domestic travel V Institutions available to shape the POTUS s image A Office of communications part of the White House Office beginning with Nixon 1 Pro active efforts agenda setting 2 Long term public relations strategies 3 Also houses Office of the Press Secretary and speechwriting staff 03 01 12 I Reagans communications operations set the high mark line of the day theme of the week photo ops going public strategy A Michael Deaver Former PR executive image is as important or more important than substance II In the OOC office of communications A The use of presidential polling has increased 1 JFK LBJ and Nixon institutionalized polling in the White House staff etc operations typically financed out of the DNC and RNC 2 Before Clinton Nixon polled about travel plans campaign trips ect i Clinton used polling to help frame his argument for policy 3 Do politicians pander follow the polls 4 Do polls create a permanent campaign III Presidency and the media A Adversarial Is symbiotic or exchange relationship need each other to survive 1 2 White House Press Secretary credibility based on i Access to White House inner circle ii Perceived truthfulness IV Timeline A Teddy Roosevelt and Wilson beginnings of institutionalized White House Press corps B FDR established Press office held bi weekly press conferences over 1000 during years C JFK first live televised presidential press conference Going public decline in in office number 1 All for show 03 13 2012 I Time Line in office number A T Roosevelt and Wilson beginning of institutionalized White House press corps B FDR Established the press office held bi weekly press conferences 1000 during years C JFK first live televised presidential press conferences Going Public decline in II Phases of modern journalism A Lapdog journalism