Introduction to the American Presidency

Introduction to the American Presidency
- Led by Matt Cucumb
- Examination of executive power and strategies employed by presidents
Mythology surrounding the American Presidency
- Perception of presidents as strong figures with significant power
- Dual role of presidents as ceremonial figurehead and government leader
- The president as both head of state and head of government
- Contrast with British system:
  - Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II (longest reigning monarch in history)
  - Head of government: Prime Minister (involved in policy making and day-to-day politics)
- Function of head of state:
  - Embodies the country, serving as its psychological and moral center
  - Engages in diplomacy and makes top-level decisions
- Function of head of government:
  - Deals with everyday political matters, implementing policies

Integration of the roles of head of state and head of government
- The president combines ceremonial and political functions
- Examples of political power derived from the ceremonial role
- Speeches during difficult times (e.g., State of the Union address)
- Uses media presence to gather public support
Power dynamics within the U.S. Political System
- Congress has ceded considerable power to the presidency
- Supreme Court's passive stance allowing presidential power accumulation
- Notably in foreign policy and national security issues

Nature of presidential success
- Historical failure rate of presidents
- Contrast between successful and unsuccessful presidencies
- Notable cases of failure in recent history:
  - Kennedy: Assassination and challenges of the Cuban Missile Crisis
  - Johnson: Declined re-election; controversy over the Vietnam War
  - Nixon: Impeachment and Watergate scandal leading to disgrace
  - Gerald Ford: Politically unsuccessful, defeated by Carter
  - Jimmy Carter: Ineffective leadership and inability to organize bureaucracy
  - Ronald Reagan: Two terms but marred by Iran-Contra scandal
  - George H.W. Bush: Success in foreign policy but domestic failures led to defeat
  - Bill Clinton: Two terms but faced scandals and impeachment
  - George W. Bush: Initially popular post-9/11; left office unpopular due to recession and the Iraq War
  - Barack Obama: Promise of hope and change, but left with economic difficulties and increased polarization
  - Donald Trump: Leadership challenges primarily related to personality and White House organization
Conclusion on the presidency's mixed legacy
- Pattern of failures across both parties
- Notably more unsuccessful presidencies than successful ones

Expansion of executive power over the last 75 years
- Growth across all policy areas, especially foreign policy and military matters
Congressional and judicial dynamics
- Resistance against presidential power growth vs. periods of granting power, particularly during crises
- The advantage of a unitary executive branch
- Executive decision-making is streamlined (one person in charge)
- Contrast with Congress:
  - Congress is large, unwieldy, and struggles with collective action problems
  - Hard to act quickly due to two chambers and limits on debate
Implications of the president's decisiveness during polarization or crises
- Faster response times compared to Congress