Fall 2022: POLI 308: Bill Newmann

Review Sheet 1

This looks big, but don't worry.  If you have come to class and done all the reading, nothing here should be new to you.

            Also, though there are a lot of terms, obviously, not each one of them is the subject of an essay. These terms, in order, are an outline of everything we've done so far. A group of them might be the subject of an essay. Usually, you can't explain a single term without referring to the terms next to it. So, really, if you can say one or two things about each term and how it relates to the terms around it and fits into the larger issues and concepts related to the US Presidency, you're doing fine. Some terms, however, are filled with enough significance to be short answers/identifications on the test (four or five sentences), but you'll be able to figure out which ones.

 

You’re responsible for the following readings (based on the syllabus schedule)

·         Greenstein, Chapters 1-9

·         Goodwin, Chapters 1-12

 

 

Terms with (*) in front of them may not have been included in the lectures, but were discussed, at length, in the readings.

 

 

If you have any questions, come to office hours or send me an email.  I’ll set up a review zoom session soon.

 

 

List of Terms: (Those terms preceded by an (*) are found primarily in the readings)

 

Introduction to the Presidency

1.       Approaches to the Presidency

Historical Approach

Institutional Approach

Character Approach

2.       Presidential Domination

3.       Cycles of Presidential power

 

*Greenstein’s keys to leadership

·         *public communication

·         *organizational capacity

·         *political skill

·         *policy vision

·         *cognitive style

·         *emotional intelligence

 

Constitution and Early Presidencies

Articles of Confederation and Executive Power?

*gridlock in Articles of Confederation era (1781-1787)

Framers nervousness about Executive Power

*finding a balance between royal tyranny and war of all against all

*nervous about legislative dictatorship

Problems of Legislative dominance and lack of unifying structures for colonies

1787 Continental Congress

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Views of Executive Power:

*expansive presidential power: anything that is not specifically someone else’s power is the presidents

Constitution with Executive ratified; Bill of Rights in the deal

Comparison of powers of Congress in Article I vs. Article II

 

Definition of the Modern Presidency

Expectations

Presidential domination

Two Presidencies

US v. Curtiss Wright

Judicial Review

Executive Orders

            Presidents interpreting laws and seeing if it sticks

            Presidential way of expanding and testing the limits of their power

Courts will decide if presidents interpret their power correctly

 

Electoral College to January 6

Electoral College

How we get 538 electoral votes

The magic number 270

Red states vs. Blue states vs. Swing states

Within states: urban areas plus college towns vs. rural areas

            Comparing a blue state to a red state by county

Population density matters

*12th Amendment and 1800 Election

Complications

1.       Electoral vote vs. popular vote: when the popular vote winner loses the electoral vote

2.       Ties?

a.       To the House of Reps

b.       Election of 1800 and 12th Amendment

3.       No one wins a majority

a.       Election of 1824

4.       Objections to Electoral Votes

a.       The process

5.       January 6, 2021

a.       Challenges to the electoral votes

b.       Zero evidence of electoral fraud

c.       Protests

d.       Riots

e.       Attack on the US Capitol Building

f.        The Big Lie

g.       Select Committee on January 6

h.       A coup?

i.        What comparative politics tells us about the Big Lie

 

Models of Presidential Government and Pre-Modern Presidents

Hamiltonian Model

*George Washington: figure head or leader behind the scenes (his view of the presidential role)

*working through intermediaries/Hamilton’s role

*Jefferson vs. Hamilton

 

Madisonian Model

Adams

*Adams

*undermined by rival Hamilton

*absences from New York capital

*lack of political and communication skill

 

Jeffersonian Model

*Thomas Jefferson in office

*governing based on philosophy/ideas

*courting members of Congress

*Congress as partner

*Madison as a weak president

*Monroe as a Jeffersonian president (dislike of parties)

*JQ Adams and the elections of 1824 and 1828

*Adams and political skill/public communication

 

Jacksonian Model        

Jackson’s rhetoric

            Elites vs. the people

*The president and the people in Jackson’s view

*Vetoes

Jackson's Theory of the Presidency -- Political competition for power

*Nullification Crisis

*Jackson and the Bank

            Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears

 

*Goodwin’s thesis 

*adversity and events

 

Abraham Lincoln:

*poverty background

* Always a great communicator

*against slavery, but compromises in legislature

*Lincoln-Douglas debates: Lincoln: containment of slavery

*Team of Rivals

*Emancipation proclamation

*as a strategy to win the war

*timing of the proclamation

 

Presidential Dominance under Lincoln

Slavery as a moral issue and tactical issue for Lincoln

Lincoln as a master politician

 

Post-Lincoln -- Pre-Teddy Roosevelt

Era of Congressional Dominance

 

Theodore Roosevelt:

*his journey from ill and protected to self-sufficient and strong

*State assembly and anti-corruption

*Family tragedy and stay in Badlands

*as crusading police commissioner

*assistant secretary of the Navy

*Spanish American War and Roughriders

*Vice Pres.

*Intervene in coal strike?

            *and presidential power

The role of the President

Stewardship Theory

*Bully Pulpit

 

FDR:

*wealthy family

*natural optimism

*role of Eleanor as social conscience

*Assistant Secretary of the Navy

*polio and the way he fights it

*As Governor: unemployment insurance bill in NY

*Goal: give confidence

*His team: committed allies, not rivals

*Fireside chats

 

The Modern Presidency:

1789-1933: First Republic of US?

1933-Present: Second Republic of US?

 

 

The Depression

Hoover's ideas about Depression and his solutions

FDR's ideas on the Depression

Election of 1932

*Public support for dictatorial presidential powers during depression

Brains trust (not the specific people, but the diversity of the ideas)

*The method of FDR decision making – competitive)

 

Theories of the Governmental Role in the Economy:

Money circulates and as long as it does, everything is fin

1. Classical Liberalism

2. Modern Liberalism

 

FDR's New Deal:

1. Government Role in the Economy:

·         *patronage: government creates jobs

1.       *WPA

2.       *CCC

·         *regulatory policy

1.       *NIRA and NRA Eagle

·         *redistributive policy

1.       *Social security

 

2. President's Role:

            *Legislator-in-Chief

3. Enlargement of Federal Government

            White House Office

            *Executive Office of the President

            "Presidential Branch"

4. Precedents and Expectations

            *100 Days

            *Federal Government as Provider of Services

5. Electoral realignment

The New Deal Coalition (This is very important; we discussed it twice)

 

*FDR's leadership and bringing hope to the US people

 

Harry Truman:

Why FDR chose him in 1944

 

22nd Amendment

Candidate-centered politics in presidential elections 

            Eisenhower wanted by both Democrats and Republicans for 1952

            Donald Trump as an example of this

 

Eisenhower as the Father of Presidential Management:

Eisenhower's Legacy: Managing the Federal Government

Organizations are:

Can you get the Federal Government to operate in a unified manner?

Eisenhower's answer:

 

Ike's management of the presidency:

1. Delegation

            President's role

            Cabinet Secretaries role

2. Interagency process--institutionalizing coordination

3. Staff System

            Sherman Adams' role

            *Managing access to the president

 

JFK and Advising

Controversy over first Catholic President

Kennedy-Nixon debates

The importance of presidential advisors

Dual role of Cabinet senior advisors

Three kinds of advisors and why a president wants each type

             

LBJ:

*Dad in legislature

*progressive politician

*only received conditional love from mother; treated staff the same way

*the way he moves up in the world – get close to people with power

            *College: from janitor to advisor to college president

*Cotulla School and his feelings about poverty

*Lobbying FDR for electricity in Hill Country near Austin

*His brutality and generosity as a boss

*After heart attack: need for legacy, not just power

            *importance of New Deal and Cotulla experience

*Completing JFK agenda

 

Essence of Presidential Power: (Neustadt)

            Persuasion/Bargaining

LBJ's political method: Finding out who wants what and doling out favors

His view of legislation: Bargaining and negotiation

LBJ on Civil Rights:

            Civil Rights Act 1964

            Voting Rights Act 1965

His persuasion method on Civil Rights:

Persuasion in a fragmented society:

Timing and Persuasion:

1964 Election

*The Great Society: