Why are some presidents more powerful than others? (in the 20 and 21 century)

Map of Presidential Power

Richard Neustadt - “Presidential Power + The Modern Presidency”

  • The president power is the power to persuade

    • The more persuasive, the more powerful

Two types of presidency:

Constitutional/ (Formal)

  • Make treaties

  • Veto Legislation

  • Pardon People

  • Commander in Chief (CinC)

  • Execute the Law

Rules/ (Informal)

  • Ceremonial Leader of USA

  • Moral Leader

    • Role models

    • What is right vs wrong (self v other) Tells us who we are by telling us who our enemies are

  • Economic Leaders

  • Leader of the political party

How does this connect to the power to persuade?

  • If the president thinks they can do what they want with just the formal powers are wrong!!

    • all the formal powers are checked by some other branch of government

      • Treaties must be ratified by the senate

      • Vetoes can be overruled

      • Wars must be declared by congress

  • In order to use the formal powers, you have to get other institutions to follow your lead (persuade)

    • “This treaty is in your best interest”

    • Must persuade congress, SCOTUS, Administration, State leaders, Interest groups, etc.

  • How can you be efficient in this persuasion leaders?

    • Persuade the people/public

    • With a 70% approval rating, you can do a lot

  • How do you persuade the people?

    • Play your informal roles/powers very well!

Informal powers good (through characteristics)→ Persuade people → persuade Other institutions→ use formal powers

Characteristics of a president make them persuasive?

  1. Integrity

    1. Important that people believe that you have them

  2. Strong

    1. “look presidential”

    2. Gender affects who is considered strong (power, battle, war)

      1. Since politics are masculine, women have to have masculine traits

      2. Women who are too masculine are a bitch

        1. Hillary Clinton, AOC

      3. Men are allowed to have feminine traits (nurturing, caring), women are not allowed to have masculine traits

  3. Charisma

    1. JFK, Trump(?), Obama,

  4. Sexy Factor (Morris term)

    1. All of us make assumptions of people based on their appearance

  5. Experience

    1. Held public office, Served in the armed forces, Lawyers, Governor, business owner, being a celebrity

  6. Education

    1. Well known school (Ivy League)

  7. Beer Factor (Morris Term)

    1. “someone you can have a beer with”

    2. down to earth, stay connected to the people

    3. Obama took walks outside the white house, played basketball with the secret service

    4. George W Bush went to his ranch in Texas dressed as a cowboy

    5. Old Joe Biden reminds me of papa

    6. Does trump have the Beer factor (no)

  8. Married w/ children

    1. demonstrates maturity, responsibility

  9. Communication

    1. Obama was a good communicator

    2. Ronald Regan was “the Great Communicator”

    3. Trump is good at small group (rallies)

Kamala Harris did not have these qualities (was that why she didn’t win?_