The Presidency The Presidency Qualifications 1 A

The Presidency

The Presidency Qualifications: 1. “A natural-born citizen” 2. Be at least 35 years of age 3. Have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. 2

The Presidency Presidential Roles: 1. Chief of State 2. Chief Executive 3. Chief Administrator 4. Chief Diplomat 5. Commander-in-Chief 6. Chief of Party 7. Chief Citizen 3

The Presidency Chief of State v The ceremonial head of the government of the United States. v The symbol of all the people of the nation. v In many countries the Chief of State reigns but does not rule. (i. e. Queen of England & Denmark, Emperor of Japan, King of Norway & Sweden) “the personal embodiment and representative of their dignity and majesty. ” - President William Howard Taft (27) 4

The Presidency Chief Executive v. Vested by the Constitution with “the executive power of the United States” v. Broad powers in both domestic and foreign affairs. Often described as “the most powerful office in the world. ” 5

The Presidency Chief Administrator v. Heads one of the largest government machines the world has known (The Federal Government). v. Employs more than three million civilians and spends more than $1. 6 trillion a year (not including current military expenses). 6

The Presidency Chief Diplomat v. The main architect of American foreign policy. v. The nation’s chief spokesperson to the rest of the world. 7

The Presidency Commander-in-Chief v. In-charge of the nation’s armed forces. v. Nearly two million men and women in uniform and all the power in the nation’s military arsenal are subject to the President’s direct and immediate control. 8

The Presidency Chief Legislator v. The main architect of the nation’s public policies. v. Sets the overall shape of the congressional agenda to get Congress to enact much of the major legislation that it does. 9

The Presidency Chief of Party (not an official role as prescribed by the Constitution) v. Leader of the political party that controls the executive branch. 10

The Presidency Chief Citizen (not an official role as prescribed by the Constitution) v“the representative of all the people” v. The one to work for and represent the public interest against the many private interests. “The presidency is not merely an administrative office. That is the least of it. It is preeminently a place of moral leadership. ” - FDR 11

The Presidency Term of Office v Four-year term “long enough period for a President to have gained experience, demonstrated his abilities, and established stable policies” – Alexander Hamilton v Until 1951, the Constitution placed no limit on the number of terms a President might serve. v “no-third-term tradition” became an unwritten rule in presidential politics until FDR, who was elected to 4 terms. 12

The Presidency Term of Office (cont’d) v 22 nd Amendment (1951) “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. ” v Two full terms = 8 years v Presidents LBJ & Jimmy Carter advocated one six-year term. 13

The Presidency Pay & Benefits v v v v v $400, 000 salary per year $50, 000 a year expense account White House (132 room mansion) set on an 18. 3 acre estate Suite of offices and a large staff Yacht, fleet of automobiles, Private plane (Air Force One), other planes & helicopters, Camp David (resort in Maryland) Medical, dental, other health care Travel & entertainment funds Lifetime pension: $143, 800 a year Presidential widows: $20, 000 a year 14

The Presidency Presidential Succession 4. Secretary of State 5. Secretary of the Treasury 6. Secretary of Defense 7. Attorney General 8. Secretary of the Interior 9. Secretary of Agriculture 10. Secretary of Commerce 1. Vice President 11. Secretary of Labor 2. Speaker of the House 12. Secretary of Health & Human Services 13. Secretary of Housing & UD 3. President pro tempore of the Senate 14. Secretary of Transportation 15. Secretary of Energy 16. Secretary of Education 17. Secretary of Veteran Affairs 15

The Presidency Presidential Succession Vice President “I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything. ” – John Adams Two formal duties of the Vice President: 1. Preside over the Senate 2. Help decide the question of presidential disability. Vice Presidents Who Succeeded to the Presidency John Tyler – on the death (pneumonia) of William Henry Harrison, April 4, 1841. Millard Fillmore – on the death (gastroenteritis) of Zachary Taylor, July 9, 1850. Andrew Johnson – on the death (assassination) of Abraham Lincoln, April 15, 1865. Chester A. Arthur – on the death (assassination) of James A. Garfield, September 19, 1881. Theodore Roosevelt – on the death (assassination) of William Mc. Kinley, September 14, 1901. Calvin Coolidge – on the death (undisclosed) of Warren G. Harding, August 2, 1923. Harry S. Truman – on the death (cerebral hemorrhage) of FDR, April 12, 1945. Lyndon B. Johnson – on the death (assassination) of JFK, November 22, 1963. Gerald R. Ford – on the resignation of Richard 16 M. Nixon, August 9, 1974.

The President’s Cabinet Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health & Human Services Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education Secretary of Veteran Affairs 00 17

The President’s Cabinet Secretary of Homeland Security Ambassador to the United Nations 18

Homework Answer the following questions: 1. Who are President-elect Obama’s current choices for his cabinet? 2. 2. What two major jobs do the cabinet members have? 19

The Presidency Rating the Presidents “The Great Presidents” ØGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, FDR “The Near Great Presidents” ØAndrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman “The Above Average Presidents” ØJohn Adams, James Madison, James Monroe, JQ Adams, James K. Polk, Grover Cleveland, Dwight Eisenhower, JFK, Lyndon Johnson 20

The Presidency Rating the Presidents “The Average Presidents” ØMartin Van Buren, Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, William Mc. Kinley, William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover, Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter “The Below Average Presidents” ØJohn Tyler, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Calvin Coolidge, Richard Nixon “The Failures” ØUlysses S. Grant and Warren G. Harding 21

The Presidency So how would you rate the following Presidents? Give an explanation as to why you would rate them the way you did. 40 th Ronald W. Reagan 41 st George H. W. Bush 42 nd William J. Clinton 43 rd George W. Bush 22

The Presidency How do you think our 44 th President, Barack Obama will rated? Why? 23

The Presidency Powers of the Presidency v Article II of the Constitution: “The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. ” v Executive Powers: • • • Command the armed forces Make treaties Approve or veto acts of Congress Send & receive diplomatic representatives Grant pardons & reprieves “to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. ” 24

The Presidency The people have demanded that the Federal Gov’t play a larger role in a long list of areas of public concern. They have also looked to the presidency for leadership in these matters. Economy War in Iraq Health Care Middle East Energy Homeland Security Abortion Education Crime & Gun Control Drugs Environment Civil Rights 25

The Presidency President-elect Obama’s advisors are considering a “buy American” provision in the economic-stimulus legislation that the incoming administration has made its first priority. Do you think the “buy American” provision is a good idea? If so, why? If not, why not? 26

The Presidency The Inauguration Countdown 15 days to Inauguration v Date: January 20 th (Tuesday in 2009) v Time: Noon v Where: Washington D. C. , Capitol Building v Procedure: Oath of Office administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, 21 -gun salute, speech by the newly sworn in President, formal lunch hosted by members of Congress, The President will lead a parade of more than 10, 000 people and dozens of floats back to the White House, 9 official balls and twice as many 27 unofficial parties.

The Presidency Inaugural Firsts (since FDR) v v v 3/4/1933 – Oldest bible used in an Inauguration (1686 Dutch bible) - FDR 1/20/1937 - First January 20 th Inauguration (20 th Amendment) – FDR 1/20/1949 - First Inauguration televised – Harry S. Truman 1/20/1961 – First Inauguration televised in color – JFK 1/20/1965 – First use of a bulletproof, closed limousine – LBJ 1/20/1981 – First closed-captioned TV broadcast for the hearing impaired – Ronald Reagan v 1/20/1985 – First time TV camera was placed inside the President’s limo & Coldest Inauguration on record – Ronald Reagan v 1/20/1987 – First time Inauguration was broadcast live on the Internet – Bill Clinton v 1/20/2005 – First Inauguration since 9/11/01 & tightest security ever (more than 100 square blocks closed off, 6, 000 police officers and 7, 000 troops deployed, fighter jet patrols, chemical sensors) – George W. Bush 28

The Presidency U. S. Presidential Trivia v v v v Smallest President = James Madison 5’ 4” 100 lbs Tallest President = Abraham Lincoln 6’ 4” Heaviest President = William Howard Taft more than 300 lbs Oldest President Elected = Ronald Reagan 69 years old Youngest President Elected = JFK 43 years old Youngest President to serve = Theodore Roosevelt 42 years old First President to throw out the “first pitch” at a baseball game = William Taft, opening day 4/4/1910 Washington Senators v. Philadelphia Athletics v Birthplace of the most Presidents = Virginia (8) v Father & son Presidents = George H. W. Bush & George W. Bush and John Adams & John Quincy Adams 29