1. The President

2. Obama
Are individual personalities now more important than parties?

3. Bush
Can the President control public discussion?

4. Clinton, Reagan, Nixon
Does a president have to be “moral” in order to be a good president?

5. Nixon
Do Americans need a President to have trustworthy character?

6. Eisenhower
Must the modern President always be involved in everything or have a solution for everything?

7. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
What role does confidence in the President have on American morale?

8. FDR Does a lot of action and policy creation make a President “great”?
Can a President be “great” if not much is changed during their Presidency?

9. Constitutional Requirements
Qualifications
Art. II
“natural-born citizen”
14 years of US residency
35 years of age
THAT’S IT!!!

10. Qualifications of Presidency
Informal qualifications:
Government experience—Congress, Governor, VP, cabinet member, etc
Military experience
Money $$$$$$
$33.78 million in primaries & $67.56 million in general election on average in modern elections
Political beliefs—moderate
Personal characteristics and background

11. Take Five What “informal” characteristics
are required to be President today?

12. Duties of the President
Appointing heads of executive departments, federal ct judges etc. (with Senate consent)
Commander in chief
Manages a $400 billion defense budget
Conducting foreign policy
Lawmaking abilities
State of the Union address

13. Take Five
What are some of the perks to
being President today?

14. Benefits of Presidency
Most powerful man in the free world
Salary $400,000 + $100,000 travel allowance
Air Force One—planes, trains and automobiles
Free medical, dental, health care etc
The White House = home!
Camp David = vacation
Lifetime retirement pension $148,400 per year + free office space + free mailing service + $96,000 for office support + Presidential Library and other honors

16. Lincoln’s Bedroom & the Rosewood Bed

17. The Red Room & The China Room

18. Balancing work and home

20. Oval Office in the 1960’s

21. Oval Office under George W.

23. Obama’s Oval Office

24. Camp David

26. Malia & Sasha Obama’s Playhouse

27. Constitutional Powers
Powers/duties are very limited
“executive power” – enact/enforce law
Military Power
Diplomatic Power
Appointment Power
Veto Power

28. Presidential Powers
“The Executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America”
Too vague…

29. The top 10 BEST Presidents
(1) Abraham Lincoln
(2) Franklin D. Roosevelt
(3) George Washington
(4) Thomas Jefferson
(5) Theodore Roosevelt
(6) Andrew Jackson
(7) Woodrow Wilson
(8) Harry S. Truman
(9) James K. Polk
(10) Dwight D. Eisenhower

30. The top 10 WORST Presidents
James Buchanan
Warren G. Harding
Andrew Johnson
Franklin Pierce
Millard Fillmore
John Tyler
Ulysses S. Grant
William H. Harrison
Herbert Hoover in a tie with
Richard Nixon
Zachary Taylor

31. Presidential traditions
George Washington
Mr. President
2 terms and stepping down
Salary
Franklin D. Roosevelt
22nd Amendment

32. Strengthening the Presidency
Washington – set precedent for future
Jackson – frequent use of veto power
Lincoln – Commander and Chief to new levels of power during the Civil War
FDR – huge influence on policy with New Deal, checked by Supreme Court

33. Strong executives Thomas Jefferson Abraham Lincoln Theodore Roosevelt
LA Purchase= “inherit powers”
Abraham Lincoln
Suspended the writ of habeas corpus & raised an army
Theodore Roosevelt
“president’s right and duty to do anything that the needs of the Nation demanded unless such action was forbidden by the Constitution or by the laws”
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Social welfare programs
Lyndon Johnson
Gulf of Tonkin incident & the blank check
George W. Bush
Homeland security

34. Roles of the President Head of State Chief Executive
Ceremonial duties—living symbol of the nation
Chief Executive
Ensures the laws of Congress are carried out
Right to appoint or remove federal officials
Appoints all federal judges and justices of the Supreme Court
Granting Amnesty—group pardon
George Washington & the Whiskey Rebellion
Issues repreives and pardons
Ford pardoned Nixon
Clinton pardoned numerous individuals before leaving office
Impoundment—refusing to spend money that Congress has authorized
Jefferson refused to spend money on gunboats
Nixon refused to spend money on social programs
Issues exectutive orders
Desegregation of armed forces under Truman

35. Roles of the President Chief Legislator Economic Planner Party Leader
State of the Union address
Influencing Congress for support
Political favors
Power of veto
Line item veto—ruled unconstitutional in Clinton v City of NY
Economic Planner
Council of Economic Advisors
Nixon control to freeze prices and wages
Prepares the federal budget
Party Leader

36. Veto Power Veto – return the bill to house it originated
(no action within 10 days – bill becomes law)

37. Appointment Power
Power to appoint ambassadors, public officers, and Supreme Court Judges with Senate approval (advice and consent)
Civil Service – most gov jobs under executive filled based on merit system
Harriet Miers
John Bolton
John Roberts

38. Roles of the President Chief Diplomat Directs foreign policy
Directs CIA, State Department, Defense Department & NSC
Power to make treaties (w/ Senate approval)
Recognition of foreign governments
Wilson refused to recognize the leader of Mexico
Kennedy refused to recognize the leader of Cuba
Power to make Executive Agreements
FDR and G. Britain in WWII
Nixon’s secret deal to N. Vietnam
Congress makes it illegal in 1972

39. Diplomatic Power
Create treaties with foreign nations with Senate permission, 2/3 Senate approval (advice and consent)
Executive agreement – not permission needed, deal between heads of state, not binding to next administration
Diplomatic Recognition – power to officially recognize foreign gov as legit
Ex – USSR not recognized
Ex s – China not recognized

40. Roles of the President Commander in Chief Power to make war
Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Panama (overthrow of dictator Manuel Noriega) War on Terror—Afghanistan & Iraq
Military operations and strategy
Day to day operations
Military backgrounds of Presidents
Atomic capabilities
Nagasaki and Hiroshima

41. Military Power Commander in Chief (civilian control)
Prez can send armed forces abroad
Congress has not declared war since 12/8/1941
Korea, Vietnam, Iraq? – all Constitutional
War Powers Resolution, 1973
Prez must report to Congress within 48 hours after deployment
If Congress does not OK in 60 days, must withdraw
Check on president, attempt to limit president

42. Presidential deaths in office (Tecumseh’s curse?)
8 Presidents have died in office
William Henry Harrison - April 4, 1841, died of pneumonia after giving a long inaugural address in the cold and rain.
Zachary Taylor - July 9, 1850, died of cholera after eating tainted cherries and milk in the middle of the summer.
Abraham Lincoln - April 15, 1865, died a few hours after being shot by an assassin.
James Garfield - September 19, 1881, died of blood poisoning two months after being shot by an assassin.
William McKinley - September 14, 1901, died eight days after being shot by an assassin.
Warren G. Harding - August 2, 1923, died of pneumonia.
Franklin D. Roosevelt - April 12, 1945, died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
John F. Kennedy - November 22, 1963, died a few hours after being shot by an assassin.
25th Amendment establishes Presidential Succession

43. Order of Succession…
Succession Act of 1947 established order of succession based on creation of cabinet positions
VP; Speaker of the House; President Pro Tempore; Sec. of State; Sec of Treasury; Sec of Defense….
First applied in 1973 (Nixon administration)
Spiro Agnew resigned
Gerald Ford becomes newly appointed VP
Richard Nixon resigned
Gerald Ford becomes Pres
Nelson Rockefeller becomes newly appointed VP

44. Take Five
What happens if the President is
NOT dead, but disabled?

45. Presidential disabilities
James Garfield
Woodrow Wilson
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Ronald Reagan
25th amendment
President informs Congress of disability or
VP & majority of cabinet informs Congress of disability
Congress has 21 days to settle disputes in favor of Pres or VP by 2/3 vote

46. Presidential Disability and Succession
22nd Amendment – limited President to 2 terms, serving no more than 10 years
25th Amendment – If the VP office is vacated, then the President can select a new VP

47. Role of the Vice President
All qualifications of President apply
Presides over Senate—tie breaker
25th Amendment—waiting for the President to die (14 VP’s have become President in this fashion)
Modern day—diplomatic responsibly, foreign policy, lawmakers, extension of President

48. Vice President Preside over the Senate, tie breaking vote
Takes over the presidency if the President cannot finish term
12th Amendment – voters choose President and VP together
Previous to 1804, the losing candidate became VP
WHAT A DISASTER!!!!

49. Electing the President
Electoral college
Popular vote is actually a vote for either the Democrat or Republican electors of each state
538 Electors determine the President
State electors = # of HOR + Senators in Congress
Wyoming = fewest electoral votes (3)
California = largest electoral votes (55)
Candidates must win 270 electoral votes to win
Maine & Nebraska are exceptions (split the electoral vote)

50. Take Five…
Is the “winner take all” system of the electoral college fair? Why or why not? What are some possibilities for reforming the current system?

51. The role of third party candidates
Third parties could win enough votes to prevent a majority for either party
Third party candidates then bargain to release votes to one side or the other
In the event the House of Rep. has to decide, each state casts 1 vote, the candidate with 26 votes wins
Problems with HOR vote
Equal representation
States in disagreement lose their vote
States with strong third party favorites lose vote

52. The Inauguration Shift of power
President and President elect ride together to the inauguration or “swearing in” ceremony
President elect takes the oath of office
Current President delivers a speech and ceremonies begin

53. The Cabinet 15 major executive departments Vice President
Secretary of State, Sec. of Treasury etc…
Vice President
Top officials
All cabinet members must be approved by the Senate
Typically has the background, education and qualifications for the job, race, and gender also play a role
Salary: $161,200

54. Role of the Cabinet Depends on the President
“kitchen cabinet” & “brain trust”
Aides & spouses
“inner cabinet”
Party loyalty, special interest groups, etc
Secrecy and trust

55. The Executive Office Executive office agencies
Attorneys, scientists, educators, financial advisors, etc
1,500 full time employees
Enlarges each administration
Ex: Reagan Office of national drug control policy
Largest EOP = Office of management & budget

56. Executive Office of the President
National Security Council – advises on military and foreign policy
Office of Management and Budget – prepares national budget, largest office
National Economic Council – advises with economic planning

57. Take Five…
What is a modern day EOP?

58. White House Staff President appoints w/o Senate approval
Chief of Staff
Press Secretary
G. Washington = 0
F.D.R. = 50
Nixon = 600
Clinton = 380

59. The Cabinet 15 major department heads advising prez
“Inner cabinet” – Secretary of State, treasury, attorney general, and defense
Robert Gates – Secretary of Defense
Hillary Clinton – Secretary of State

60. White House Office
“Pyramid” model – assistants answer to a hierarchy up to a chief of staff (few top advisors to prez, prez free but isolated)
“Circular” model – direct contact with staff (many top advisors to prez, prez busy but connected)
Significance: determines what aids have the most influence on presidential decisions

61. Take Five…
How does the President get the mandate –popular support—of the people? What happens if a President does not receive a mandate?

62. Mandate of the People
Mass media, press conferences, leaking information
Opinion polls
Nixon—90% of the public wanted to see an end to the war in Vietnam
Reagan—the “Great Communicator”
George W.—90% approval rating after “declaring a war on terror” in 2001…but dropped significantly as the war in Iraq continued and Katrina hit

63. Limits on Presidential Powers
Congressional override 2/3 vote to override a Presidential veto
Senate confirmation of appointees
Congressional power to Impeach
Andrew Johnson; Richard Nixon; Bill Clinton

64. Limits on Presidential Powers
Supreme Court has authority to limit the President (Executive Branch)
Marbury v Madison
Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v Sawyer

65. Executive privilege
The right to privacy of conversation between advisors and prez
Why?
Separation of powers prevents branches from sharing internal workings
Privacy is needed for candid advice from advisors with out political pressure

66. Executive Privilege US v. Nixon
Nixon refused to hand over recorded conversations, claiming Exec. Privilege
Court ruled in favor of US
EP can’t be used to block the function of the federal court procedures

67. Impoundment
Presidential practice of refusing to spend money appropriated by Congress.
Budget Reform and Impoundment Act of 1974 – president must spend funds

68. The President as Morale Builder
Symbolic importance (FDR – Great Depression, Bush – 9/11)
Unify nation

69. Agenda Setting
The President can control public policy and discussion through…
The media
State of the Union speech
Make policy proposals
Encourage the Congress

70. Executive Orders Prez issues executive orders that have force of law
Ex – power to enforce the Constitution, treaties, laws, etc.
FDR – allowed Japanese internment
Truman – integrate military
Eisenhower – desegregate public schools

71. Line-Item Veto???
Should the President be able to veto certain parts of a bill, and not other parts?
Line-Item Veto Act 1996
Clinton v. City of New York (1997) – law found unconstitutional

72. Gridlock
Divided government – Prez and Congress majority represent different political parties
“gridlock” – the inability to accomplish goals
Con – government operation shuts down
Pro – slows the decision making process, example of check and balance

73. Take Five
Which Presidents have been
Impeached?

74. Impeachment
House impeaches, Senate tries the prez, Chief Justice presides over the trial
Two presidents impeached, neither removed (Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton)