October 25, 2012 Kathryn C. Lavelle American Politics, the Presidency of the World Bank, and Development Policy

The Presentation 1.How the paper came about 2.What am I asking in it? 3.My answer to the question 4.The evidence I provide for the answer 5.Why does archival work matter for these questions?

Background to the Paper

Question the paper addresses What does the selection of the World Bank's president by the US mean for the relationship between the organization and its largest shareholder?

The (working) answer: Two presidents with the most extensive political networks prior to their appointment (McNamara and Wolfensohn) made use of these connections to introduce greater institutional independence to the Bank as a development agency. They were able to navigate partisan politics in Washington successfully, particularly when new US presidential administration assumed power.

Historical evidence (four cases) Eugene Meyer Eugene Black Robert McNamara James Wolfensohn

World Bank PresidentYears in Office US CongressSenateHouse US Presidential Administration Eugene MeyerJune 1946 to December –1947DD Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman (D) John J. McCloyMarch 1947 to June 1949 Eugene BlackJuly 1949 to December –1949RR 1949–1951DD 1951–1953DD 1953–1955RR Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) 1955–1957DD 1957–1959DD 1959–1961DD George WoodsJanuary 1963 to March –1963DDJohn F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy (D) 1963–1965DD Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson (D) 1965–1967DD Robert McNamaraApril 1968 to June –1969DD 1969–1971DD Richard NixonRichard Nixon (R) 1971–1973DD 1973–1975DD Gerald FordGerald Ford (R) 1975–1977DD 1977–1979DD Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter (D) 1979–1981DD Alden ClausenJuly 1981 to June –1983RD Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan (R) 1983–1985RD Barber ConableJuly 1986 to August –1987RD 1987–1989DD 1989–1991DD George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. Bush (R) Lewis PrestonSeptember 1991 to May –1993DD 1993–1995DD Bill ClintonBill Clinton (D) James WolfensohnJuly 1995 to June –1997RR 1997–1999RR 1999–2001RR 2001–2003R/DR George W. BushGeorge W. Bush (R) 2003–2005RR Paul WolfowitzJune 2005 to May –2007RR Robert ZoellickJuly 2007 to June –2009RD 2009–2011D/RD Barack ObamaBarack Obama (D) Jim Y. KimJuly 2012 to present 2011–2013DR World Bank Presidencies and US Political Parties by Branch of Government

Conclusion Why does archival work matter for this study?