1. Presidential Support Staff Unit 4: Institutions

2. The White House

3. I. Executive Office of the President The Oval Office

4. The President’s World

5. A.White House Office/ White House Staff 1.Immediate staff of President: Office space in West Wing of White House Proximity to President. “Rule of Propinquity”: power is wielded by people who are in the room where decisions are made 2.Organization: Two general forms a)Circular method (used by FDR and Carter): b)Pyramid method (used by Ike, Nixon, and Reagan): c)Analysis of methods

6. Visual for Forms of Organization Circular MethodPyramid Method

7. 1.Appointments to the White House Office- A.Chief of Staff, generally do not require Senate consent The following appointments do require Senate confirmation B. OMB: prepares the annual budget and reviews federal programs C.NSC (National Security Council) D.NSA (National Security Agency) E.CEA (Council on Economic Advisory F. Council on Environmental Quality

8. II. Cabinet A.Definition: heads of the Cabinet depts. And 5 others who hold “cabinet rank” (OMB Director, CIA Director, White House Counselor, UN Ambassador, US Trade Rep) B.Each of these is appointed by the President w/ Senate consent C.In parliamentary systems Hammers out policy w MPs MPs are part of cabinet

9. D.In our system: Const. ban from being members of Cong Interest is to empower their own depts, not hammer out policy for all stakeholders E. President influence over Cabinet is limited- Examples: 1.Can fire appointees 2.Little control over Civil Service employees F.Factors affecting selection of Cabinet Secretaries: 1.Party affiliation 2.Interest group influence 3.Race 4.Geographic diversity 5.Sex 6.“Confirmability”

10. III. Who gets appointed to federal positions? A.Dependence on staff recommendations B.Background of appointees

11. IV. Vice President

12. A.Only two constitutional duties: B.Traditionally VP is a dull do nothing job: 1.“The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit”- John Nance Garner 2.“I do not choose to be buried until I am really dead”- Daniel Webster on refusing a VP nomination in 1848 3.“…the most insignificant office ever conceived”- John Adams

13. C.VPs job is whatever the president says it is D.Importance of the office: 1.9/43 Presidents have not finished their terms of office 2.VP can become Acting President if the President is disabled 3.In recent years, Presidents (i.e. Carter, Reagan, Clinton) have made more effective use of VP. Esp Bush-Cheney 4.Vice Presidency can be a stepping stone to the Presidency- i.e. Bush 41

14. Lecture DQs 1.List and discuss the two methods of organization for the President’s office. Provide examples of presidents for each. 2.Discuss the role of the Cabinet. Provide 2 examples that demonstrate the role.