1. Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher
POL 101: U.S. Government
Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher

2. Models of
Presidential
Behavior

3. Three Models of Presidential Behavior
Sorenson’s theory of limitations
Neustadt’s theory of presidential power
Barber’s theory of presidential character x
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4. Theodore Sorenson Advisor and speechwriter for JFK
Taught at Princeton and Harvard
Viewed presidency from both “inside” and “outside”
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5. Sorenson’s limitations
Presidents do not feel particular powerful
They are limited or constrained by various factors
More successful presidents overcome these limitations, less successful presidents do not
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6. Sorenson’s limitations
Limitations of permissibility
Limitations of previous commitments
Limitations of time
Limitations of information
Limitations of resources
Institutional limitations
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7. Limitations of Permissibility
Certain policies are unacceptable for advanced democratic capitalist system
Some degree of “morality” in international behavior
Some notion of “good society” at home
Use nuclear weapons, dominate other countries, ignore critical social problems, steal elections
Torture, domestic spying, drones
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8. Limitations of Previous Commitments
Presidents inherit the policies and programs of their predecessors (not just recent ones)
Presidents do not start with “clean slate”
American troops in Europe, Japan, South Korea
Obama inherits Iraq and Afghanistan from Bush
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9. Limitations of Time Presidents are human not 24-hour machines
Non-essential duties
Presidents must choose 3-4 issues to focus on in first term
Presidents cannot “police” the bureaucracy
Crises must be dealt with and can change plans
Re-election and lame-duck pressures
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10. Limitations of Information
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Bureaucracy to provide president with advice on host of issues
CEA, OMB, GAO, White House staff, academics, think tanks
CIA, DIA, NSA, NSC, many others

11. Limitations of Information
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Presidents always have “imperfect” information
Presidents must take risks with inadequate information
Risks can lead to success or failure
Desire for more information leads to “paralysis”

12. Limitations of Resources
Federal budget is not unlimited (more of a problem for Democrats)
Military manpower, political capital, presidential appeals to Congress, televised addresses
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13. Institutional Limitations
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14. Institutional Limitations
Three branches with checks and balances
Federal system designed to move slowly
Often have “divided government”
Federalism in which states have powers
Presidents consider public opinion and re-election
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15. Three Models of Presidential Behavior
Sorenson’s theory of limitations
Neustadt’s theory of presidential power
Barber’s theory of presidential character x
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16. Richard Neustadt
Political Scientist at Columbia and Harvard (presidency)
Advisor to several presidents
Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents
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17. Neustadt’s Presidential Power
Power to command (give orders, deploy troops, launch air strikes, issue pardons, etc.) is relatively rare
Power to persuade is more important
--- persuade Congress to pass his laws
--- persuade bureaucracy to follow his changes/reforms
--- persuade American people to support his policies
--- persuade other countries to agree with US policies
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18. Neustadt’s Presidential Powers
Power to Command
Presidential Reputation
Presidential Personality
Power to Persuade
Domestic Economic Success/Failure
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Presidential Popularity
Foreign Policy Success/Failure

19. Neustadt’s Presidential Powers
Power to Persuade
Domestic Economic Success/Failure
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Presidential Popularity

20. Three Models of Presidential Behavior
Sorenson’s theory of limitations
Neustadt’s theory of presidential power
Barber’s theory of presidential character x
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21. James David Barber Political Scientist at Duke University (presidency)
The Presidential Character
Predicted “downfall” of President Nixon in 1969; launched his model
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22. James David Barber
Presidents bring a series of personality traits with them to the White House
We want presidents with more “good traits” than “bad traits”
Examined their personal and political history
Four-party typology of presidential character/personality
Lots of problems with model, but still “appealing”
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23. Active or Passive ACTIVE
Problem-solving, energetic, thrive on challenge of office
Center of White House
Democratic Party bias?
PASSIVE
Few policy initiatives, care-taker administration
Ceremonial duties
Aloof managerial style
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24. Positive or Negative POSITIVE Enjoy being President
Accept criticism, sense of humor, interact with press
Flexible, learn from mistakes
NEGATIVE
Presidency as burden, office weighs heavily on them
Thin-skinned, hate press
Inflexible, cannot change course
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25. Barber’s Typology     ACTIVE PASSIVE POSITIVE NEGATIVE FDR Bush 41
Truman Clinton
JFK
Carter
Ford
Harding
Reagan 
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE 
Wilson LBJ
Nixon
[Bush 43]
Taft
Coolidge
Eisenhower  

26. The End