1. Style of Presidential Leadership

2. Increased Responsibility
When the Constitution was written, the Founding Fathers anticipated that the Congress would be most powerful
The role of the POTUS was viewed as Chief Administrator and in times of war Commander in Chief
Today, the president’s main role is leadership
Polls consistently show that Americans look to the POTUS to exercise strong leadership, keep the peace, and solve economic and social problems

3. Leadership Qualities and Skills
Understanding the Public
Most successful presidents have a genuine feel for the hopes, fears, and moods of the nation
Understanding the people is necessary to gain and hold support
Public support can give a president real leverage in influencing lawmakers
Failure to understand the people can cost an election (i.e. Hoover in 1932)

4. Leadership Qualities and Skills
Ability to Communicate
Communication with the public is important for support of ideas
Carter had troubles dealing with the press and in turn had a hard time gaining public support for his policies
Reagan was a very effective communicator and was able to sell his ideas to the public

5. Leadership Qualities and Skills
Sense of Timing
The POTUS must know when the time is right to introduce a new policy or make a key decision
Delaying policy or decisions may be the best decision in some cases
H.W. Bush believed that economic aid was the best course of action for the Soviet Union to promote democracy, he delayed payment of aid until nations broke free of the Soviet Union
Successful presidents have used their cabinet secretaries to test ideas

6. Leadership Qualities and Skills
Openness to New Ideas
Good leadership requires the capacity to be flexible
Some presidents have used informal debate among their staff to hear different sides of issues
Situations have the ability to change rapidly and the POTUS must modify and adjust course of action to deal accordingly

7. Leadership Qualities and Skills
Ability to Compromise
The nature of politics is such that the president must often be willing to give up something in order to get something in return
Successful presidents are able to recognize that they sometimes have to settle for legislation by Congress that provides only part of what they want
Presidents who do not compromise may be risking getting nothing accomplished

8. Leadership Qualities and Skills
Political Courage
Sometimes presidents must go against public opinion in taking actions they believe are vital to the nation’s well-being
Lincoln’s insistence on maintaining the unpopular war instead of settling for the more popular idea of coming to a negotiated peace with the South ultimately resulted in a Union victory. Lincoln stayed the course of war even though he believed that it would cost him the 1864 election

9. Presidential Isolation
Special Treatment
Presidents are in an atmosphere where it is easy to see themselves as deserving only praise and to consider their ideas as above criticism
Voicing Opinions
Presidents often discourage staff members from disagreeing with them or giving them unpleasant advice
Many staffers are in awe of the office of the president and tend not to speak up against the POTUS

10. Presidential Isolation
Access to the President
There is limited access to the president for security purposes
With limited access comes limited ability to offer differing opinions
Dangers of Isolation
Only top officials are able to share ideas with the POTUS
The lack of challenges to the POTUS can lead to poor policy decisions
Furthered by the POTUS filling top roles with “Yes Men”