Modern presidency is a concept which describes the time period, which executive control over policy became the norm and not the exception. In The Qualities of Effective Presidents: An Overview from FDR to Bill Clinton, Fred Greenstein develops six standards on how to rate presidential performance. He discusses these six standards within the administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt to Bill Clinton. Also, Greenstein compares different administration’s abilities to meet these standards. Finally, Greenstein explains the most influential of these characteristics, emotional intelligence, as having the most profound impact on any administration.
Communicating to the public, especially today, has become an art that many presidential hopefuls seek to master. Greenstein explains that all presidents must polish their communication skills, and most did this in the latter portions of their careers. (179). However, President Bush, Sr., thought he could bypass this problem by changing speaking venues and limiting his public speeches. Perhaps even more important is communication within the administration’s staff. The alumni, as Greenstein refers to it, will either praise their Commander in Chief or they will hold contempt against him. Eisenhower believed this to be very important, and as such, he created a very diverse group of political advisors. (Greenstein, 179).
Furthermore, political skill is also perpetuated by organizational capacity. Political skill can be broken down into the methods a president uses to develop relationships with congresspersons and get policies passed. The Johnson administration made key positions for domestic matters. Greenstein continues that Johnson’s public popularity also got a boost when, in 1963, Johnson forced Congress to work past its session. (180). Aside from political skill, policy vision also incorporates the relationships with Congress. Vision can also be described as the ability for policy to clearly and concisely state its objectives. Although Roosevelt could be considered the best at this, Bush Sr. found out about the problems associated with inconsistency, undesired policy effects, and drift from original intentions. (Greenstein, 182).
Moreover, the cognitive style could lead to the same results as policy vision, if an administration was not careful. Cognitive style should be thought of in terms of strategic intelligence. Greenstein states that while Nixon was perhaps the best at cognitive style, given his Vietnam policy, Truman and Reagan both were known for imperfections in their own understanding of policies. (182). Emotional intelligence plays a dual role with strategic intelligence. However, given American politics, popularity among the citizens is almost strictly dependent on emotional intelligence. Rather, the lack of emotional intelligence can eclipse an entire administration. Although most administrations maintained an even keel approach to emotional intelligence; the mood swings of Johnson, Carter’s my way or the highway mentality, and Clinton’s personal scandals are all examples of the other side of the coin. (Greenstein, 183). Greenstein points out that none of this compared to Nixon’s handicap of bouts with anger and suspiciousness, which clouded his whole administration. (183).
Greenstein explains that every president is human; as such, they are expected to have imperfections. However, some of these are much more disabling to an administration than others. Greenstein states six characteristics by which a presidential administration’s effectiveness can be judged. Of these six, emotional intelligence is the sleeping giant. If awake, the effect is not only devastating to an administration, it is often crippling.
Works Cited
Greenstein, Fred I. “The Qualities of Effective Presidents: An Overview from FDR to Bill Clinton”. Presidential Studies Quarterly. 30.1 (2000): 178-85.