Political Science 3300 The American Presidency March 12, 2012
Presidents in Political Time
(We are doing this topic earlier than listed in the syllabus)
Presidential Leadership Disrupt Politics
Presidents come into office in different situations (remember Tichenor):
Is the political order weak or strong?
Are they affiliated with the existing order or opposed to it?
Presidents confront Four Types of Political Circumstances
These recur over and over in American history
|
|
Strong Political Order |
Weak Political Order |
|
President is affiliated |
AFFILIATION |
DISJUNCTION |
|
President is opposed to the existing political order |
PREEMPTION |
RECONSTRUCTION |
1. The Politics of Reconstruction:
The existing political order is weak, and the president is from the other party
2. The Politics of Affiliation
The existing political order is strong, and the president is from the same party
3. The Politics of Disjunction
The existing political order is weak, and the president is from the same party
4. The Politics of Preemption
The existing political order is strong, and the president is from the other party
Personality, Character, and Skill
1. A human being in an extraordinary job
2. Different Backgrounds
3. Different States of health
4. Different Personalities
"Active" versus "Passive" personalities
"Negative" versus "Positive personalities
Some other personality characteristics
Assessing recent presidents
5. Differences in Character
What is character?
How do you know good character when you see it?
6. Different Skills
Managerial Skills
Political Skills