1. Presidential Character A presidents actions in office reflects something more than his political views. They also reflect the inner forces that give rise to his basic character. Personality characteristics clearly have an important effect on presidents success or failure in office. However, character is only one of a number of factors that go into making a successful president

2. Presidential Character Scholars have identified personality traits that voters tend to repeatedly claim they think are important for a President: Competence Integrity Empathy Trustworthiness Moral Integrity

3. Presidential Character Presidents are in a better position to persuade when their public popularity is high (honeymoon period=first 100 days) The presidents popularity and legislative success also depend upon the wider political environment and whether divided government exists that produces gridlock.

4. Presidential Leadership Skills 1.Understanding the public 2.Ability to communicate 3.Sense of timing 4.Open to new ideas 5.Able to compromise 6.Have political courage

5. Presidential Leadership Candidates who win the presidency claim they have been given a mandate (an endorsement) by the voters to carry out their policy proposals, but such mandates tend to be more rhetoric than reality. According to political science scholars, presidents will have a greater opportunity to change policy when in the majority and the opposing political party is perceived to be unable to solve major national problems.

6. The Power to Persuade The Presidents persuasive powers The Presidents persuasive powers are aimed at 3 audiences: 1. 1. The Washington, D.C. audience of fellow politicians and leaders (insiders) 2. 2. The party activists and officeholders outside of DC (outsiders = governors, mayors, etc.) 3. 3. The public

7. The President and The Public Presidents are in a better position to bargain when their public popularity is high Over time, presidential popularity usually declines Presidential popularity can be strongly affected by economic conditions, unanticipated events or crises (the Iranian hostage crisis), or involvement in a war (Iraq). Leading by public opinion polling reflects a presidents desire to be responsive, but high public opinion ratings do not guarantee bipartisan support in Congress or the support of broad interest group coalitions.

8. The President as World Leader For nearly 40 years, the presidents priority as world leader was to contain communism. Since the 1990s US presidents entered a new era in which there was more emphasis placed on managing national security, fostering a peaceful international environment, protecting U.S. economic interests and promoting democracy and humanitarian concerns throughout the world.

9. The President as World Leader Guidelines for determining presidential actions during crisis include: Drawing on a range of advisers and opinions Not acting in haste Having a well-designed formal review process with thorough analysis and open debate Examining the reasoning underlying all options to ensure that their assumptions are valid

10. In your opinion, who are the top 10 Presidents? http://legacy.c- span.org/PresidentialSurvey/ presidential-leadership- survey.aspx http://legacy.c- span.org/PresidentialSurvey/ presidential-leadership- survey.aspx