A Changing Presidency Flashcards
President from 1913-21
Woodrow Wilson: Democrat
President from 1921-23
Warren G. Harding: republican
President from 1923-29
Calvin Coolidge: republican
President from 1929-33
Herbert C. Hoover: republican
President from 1933-45
Franklin D. Roosevelt: democrat
President from 1945-53
Harry S. Truman: democrat
President from 1953-61
Dwight D. Eisenhower: republican
President from 1961-63
John F. Kennedy: democrat
President from 1963-69
Lyndon B. Johnson: democrat
President from 1969-74
Richard M. Nixon: Republican
President from 1974-77
Gerald R. Ford: republican
President from 1977-81
Jimmy Carter: democrat
Why did people dislike Wilson
People thought he took too large a part in government decision-making
He took USA into war and didn’t consult congress about promoting the League of Nations
Believed presidents should be involved in law-making, drafted bills and introduced them to congress
Leader of democrats in the house of representatives seen as speaking for the president, expected the House to fall in line with Wilson’s wishes
Harding’s approach to the presidency
‘Less government in business and more business in government’
Laissez-faire policies
Campaigns demonstrated him as a president that wouldn’t interfere
But gave jobs to corrupt friends, exploited their positions to make money which made the whole administration look corrupt
Coolidge’s approach to the presidency
Laissez-faire approach with dignity and morality
Let congress go its own way
USA entered period of recovery and prosperity which reflected well on him, economic boom
Hoover’s campaign
Hoover’s election campaign stated that republicans had eliminated poverty, encouraged equality, and restored the economy and democrats would ruin this
Clear to people by his presidency that there were growing economic and social problems
Hoovers’ approach to the Great Depression
Republicans favoured leaving the economy to sort itself out as the 18 month depression after WW1 sorted itself out
Hoover followed this policy initially
Once he realised laissez-faire policies were not working, he believed private charities should offer help on a local, personal level and the most gov should do is encourage people to do this
Hoover’s legislation for the Great Depression: 1929
Agricultural Marketing Act sets up a Federal Farm Board to buy key crops to stabilise prices
Needed to help farmers struggling due to isolationist tariffs
Hoover’s legislation for the Great Depression: 1930
President’s Emergency Committee for unemployment: temporary organisation set up to find work projects for the unemployed and to persuade businesses to create more jobs on local, voluntary basis, was overwhelmed so hoover encouraged business men to set up similar organisations
Committee for Unemployment relief: co-ordinated and advised on state efforts for the unemployed
Hoover’s legislation for the Great Depression: 1931
National Credit Corporation: funded by healthy banks/businesses to help failing ones, lent $10 million with a budget of $500 million
Hoover’s legislation for the Great Depression: 1932
January: Reconstruction Finance Corporation set up with $300 million to lend to states for relief projects
July: RFC lending also given to farmers, public works can be set up, federal home loan bank act had federal fund to lend people money in trouble with mortgages
Why did people disapprove of Hoover’s handling of the Great Depression
Between 1930-32, he advised states on projects and then gave money to fund help but this was not enough
Asked congress to pass legislation, when not rejected, they took government into more debt (last year of his presidency, received $2000 million and spent over $5000 million)
Blamed for economic crisis, shanty towns of homeless people named ‘Hoovervilles’
What was the bonus army
Veterans asked for bonuses earlier than 1945 due to depression
Government refused and in June 1932, 150-200,000 marched to Washington to make demands in person
Fears of riots and police didn’t manage to break up the camps
28 July: troops sent in with tear gas, bayonets, cavalry, tanks, and machine guns (only tear gas and bayonets used)
To excuse this, report suggested they were communist agitators and criminals
Effect of the bonus army
Hoover lost popularity
How did the decline of republicanism in the 1930s come about
1931: democrats had majority in the House of Representatives and were gaining seats in the senate due to republican failure to solve problems of the depression
Hoover’s unpopularity: claimed to be poor people’s party but was clear they weren’t, broke rugged individualism policies so unpopular with republicans
Roosevelt: new plan and attitude to government, good communicator and effective governor of new York
Roosevelts campaign: hoovers campaign of ‘destruction, despair, delay and doubt’
Effects of the decline of republicanism
Hoover only won 6 states
Largest number of voters recorded (more than 40 million)
In 1936 only won 2 states as they didn’t plan own policies as they were busy contesting stream of legislation implemented by the Roosevelt administration
Roosevelt’s approach to the presidency
Confident, charming, persuasive
Pragmatic and good communicator, determined to restore confidence
Understood how to manipulate congress, pushed through many laws in his first 100 days as congress accepted his first banking bill
Used executive orders when congress wasn’t helpful
More concerned with general policy, didn’t understand economic theory very well
How did Roosevelt change the structure of the White House
Created more staff to increase federal intervention in government work
Set up separate executive office for the president, contained several departments to deal with the administration
Roosevelt’s role in the media
Understood managing people very well
Set up ‘fireside chats’ which were radio broadcasts in which he explained policies to people in a casual way
Received sackfuls of letters from ordinary people asking for help or giving thanks
Held ‘off the record’ press meetings twice a week with selected reporters, told them what was going on, they felt involved and on his side
Why was Roosevelt unpopular with some groups
Wealthy business people disliked his policies, republicans and some democrats disliked his enlarging of the powers of the presidency
Compared to dictators in 1940 election by opponents
After 1936, Supreme Court ruled against alphabet agencies as they were ‘unconstitutional’
AAA and NRA ruled unconstitutional in 1937
Tried in 1937 to increase number of Supreme Court judges so that he could fill the court with supporters, very unpopular so had to abandon it
Roosevelt’s legacy
- President expected to be involved in forming of policy and legislation
- White House had more federal boards and committees, to run country and to discuss policy and draft laws
- White House expected media and public about policy
- government and presidency responsible for welfare
- president was there to solve peoples problems, credited when things went well, advisors blamed when things weren’t going well
What wasn’t changed after Roosevelt’s presidency
Theory of separation of power, Supreme Court upheld state rights against lots of federal legislation
Agreement of congress still needed for law
Personality and still affected extent of power of president and people’s reactions
Trumans personality
Not charismatic, not confident
Made mistakes under pressure as was overwhelmed by importance of the job, ‘to err is Truman’
Wilson’s presidency
1913-21
Harding’s presidency
1921-23
Coolidge’s presidency
1923-29
Hoover’s presidency
1929-33
Roosevelt’s presidency
1933-45
Truman’s presidency
1945-53
Eisenhower’s presidency
1953-61
Kennedy’s presidency
1961-63
Johnson’s presidency
1963-69
Nixon’s presidency
1969-74
Ford’s presidency
1974-77
Carter’s presidency
1977-81
Truman’s relationship with the media
Thought it was important, gave briefings on economic policy but didn’t always explain enough
Truman’s relationship with the public
Didn’t appeal instantly and didn’t try to connect or explain strategy
Made mistakes in ad-lib speeches
Truman’s level of organisation
Worked well with the WH administration but didn’t always choose the right people
Trumans relationship with congress
Didn’t work well, but there was republican majority after 1946
Blocked reforms and had fewer contacts, so less able to network/ charm
Eisenhower’s personality
Optimistic, friendly manner
Eisenhower’s relationship with the media
Knew it was important, sometimes minimised problems
Eisenhower’s relationship with the public
Good public manner, accessible
Used clear imagery in speeches (domino effect of communist countries)
Eisenhower’s organisation
Exceptionally organised, regular briefings and long-term planning sessions
Everyone concerned would debate a decision
Eisenhower’s relationship with congress
Worked well with congress, good at political bargaining and persuasion
Kennedy’s personality
From political family, understood importance of charm, worked hard on speech-making style and self-presentation
Kennedy’s relationship with the media
Knew it was important, learn names and had personal chats with media reporters
Used TV effectively
Kennedy’s relationship with the public
Good public manner, accessible and attractive
Kennedy’s organisation
Poor organisational ability, advisors competed for attention and didn’t work together
Robert Kennedy and Theodore Sorensen did much of the work and reported
Abandoned Eisenhower’s regular meetings, held meetings as needed and didn’t always consult the right people (Bay of Pigs), less long-term planning sessions
Kennedy’s relationship with congress
Worked well, good at political bargaining and persuasion, helped that he had family connections
Johnson’s personality
Had been in politics for a while, understood importance of winning people over
Changed style and opinions to get what he wanted
Johnson’s relationship with the media
Not natural with the media but kept them informed
Johnson’s relationship with the public
Patchy, gave good speeches and stiff, awkward ones, best with small groups
Johnson’s organisation
Kept Kennedy’s but didn’t suit him, own organisation was good
Johnson’s relationship with congress
Worked very well, had political background so understood how to use connections and persuade
Good at creative thinking to make things happen
Nixon’s personality
Clever and capable but suspicious and didn’t like people disagreeing with him
Made spur-of-the-moment decisions then backtracked
Nixon’s relationship with the media
Distrusted it, bad at managing it
Nixon’s relationship with the public
Not good with people, worked on it but seemed awkward and insincere
Nixon’s organisation
Reinstated system of regular meetings and briefings with WH staff
But not good at taking advice
Nixon’s relationship with congress
Awkward due to suspicious nature, found it hard to make personal connection and persuade so was hard to manage congress
Effect of the Cold War on the presidency
Changed the position:
- power to go to war/ make treaties without congress grew with involvement in NATO and the UN
- 1947 National Security Act: reorganised US military forces, size of armed forces enlarged after 1950, as commander-in-chief president could move forces around without permission of congress
- National Security Act: created Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Security Council, reported to the WH not Congress
- president had to have power to react to nuclear war without warning, didn’t have to wait to ask Congress for permission
Long-term impacts of the Cold War on the presidency
Truman made treaties to place permanent US bases in other countries without consulting congress
Ordered Berlin Airlift and went to war without Korea without Congress’ consent
Later presidents also did this, JFK didn’t tell congress about bay of pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961
Impact of Korean War on presidency
Changed how media dealt with the presidency
- media expected level of info/access as with Roosevelt and during WW2
- Truman held back from media due to not wanting to fuel anti-communist feeling
- media took info from other sources, e.g. republicans who were critical and speculated
Contributed to the beginnings of disillusionment with the presidency and government
Headlines spread during Korean War
7 July 1950: announced that president wanted to increase troops which was true
- said they wanted to use the draft, which was untrue
- said they were considering using atomic bomb, which was untrue
Truman’s actions during the Korean War
August 1950: began TV briefings, arranged for over 200 reporters to go to Korea
- hard to regain media support for ‘limited war’, hard to regain public support as he didn’t communicate well
April 1951: sacked General MacArthur, little support despite him disobeying direct orders from Truman
Impact of the Korean War on Truman’s popularity
Under pressure from democrats and republicans to scale up the war to help fight china and take harder line on communism
Opponents said the need for peaceful resolution didn’t sound like the Truman Doctrine
Congress and the WH bickered but now it was shown in media, made presidency seen in different light
Effect of the Vietnam war on the presidency
Drove presidents into unpopular domestic policies
Presidents seen as driving policy in the war as they had power in foreign affairs, more responsible
People more likely to look more critically at the role and behaviour of president in future wars
Opposition to the presidency in the Vietnam war
Protests in 1968 against the war chanted ‘hey hey LBJ how many kids did you kill today’
Final withdrawal from the Vietnam war
Difficult to withdraw as many South Vietnamese were in danger
Footage in 1975 of helicopter evacuation of Saigon which took out US citizens and some South Vietnamese, leaving many behind despite the notion of a ‘planned withdrawal’
Reaction to the withdrawal of the Vietnam war
Relieved to be out of it, humiliated due to the chaotic exit and ‘dirty’ nature of the war
First war USA lost, didn’t reflect well on the president
Statistic to show decline in confidence of the public
1960: 70% Americans trusted the government most of the time
1974: under 40% trusted the government
Events in January 1968 that lead to decline in confidence in government
31 January: Tet offensive launched by North Vietnamese, turning point in attitude towards Vietnam war
Events in February 1968 that lead to decline in confidence in government
27 February: Walter Conkrite returns from Vietnam and films highly critical special report about how the war is being waged
Events in March 1968 that lead to decline in confidence in government
19 March: student protest at Howard university, Washington DC
- rallies, protests, sit-ins
- demonstrations this year become more and more violent
Events in April 1968 that lead to decline in confidence in government
4 April: MLK assassinated, sparks riots in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas city, Newark, Washington DC
24 April: student protestors occupy buildings in University of Colombia
28 April: anti-war march in Chicago ends up with bystanders and marchers being beaten up by police
Events in June 1968 that lead to decline in confidence in government
5 June: Robert Kennedy assassinated (brother of JFK)
28 June: LBJ forced to raise taxes despite promises not to
When was JFK assassinated
1963
Events in July 1968 that lead to decline in confidence in government
23-28 July: black protesters and police in gun battle in Cleveland Ohio
Events in August 1968 that lead to decline in confidence in government
28 August: police use violence against peaceful demonstrators outside national democratic convention in Chicago
How did the media contribute to a decline in confidence from 1968
Wider access to media: radio, TV and newspaper reporters changed peoples view of the president and government
- under Roosevelt, media saw job as explaining policies
- after mishandling of Korean War, criticism grew, after 1968, media saw job as uncovering government deception
How did scandal contribute to the decline in confidence from 1968
Public confidence shaken by evidence that they couldn’t trust the government
- watergate scandal 1972-74 showed they were guilty of burglary and surveillance of political opponents
- tapes of discussions in the WH showed Nixon in a bad light, he swore, was suspicious of everyone, made it clear he was happy to lie to people
How did mishandling of events contribute to the decline in confidence from 1968
Vietnam: army scandals and government mishandling of the war grew public opposition, distrust
How did the White House contribute to the decline in confidence 1968
Roosevelt enlarged the staff, created bureaus that reported to the president, not Congress
- staff members acted in the presidents name without consulting him, some took bribes and made deals
As costs of staffing and campaigning increased, campaigns were dependent on donations from unions or big businesses, expected to have influence if their candidate won
How did social factors contribute to decline in confidence from 1968
- Violent police reactions to protests in the South
- Riots to MLK’s assassination, sometimes in response to incidents involving racial injustice by police
- police and national guard became increasingly violent with student protestors
- places (e.g. chicago) notorious for police violence against demonstrators
- white middle-class Americans became disillusioned with ‘liberal’ thinking, thought government was doing too much for the poor
- violent protests due to gap in enforcement of civil rights
How did the presidents contribute to the decline in confidence from 1968
LBJ: put troops in Vietnam without congress’ approval, communicated poorly with public and press
Nixon: forced public communication style, not many warmed to him, watergate and corruption in administration
Ford: pardoned Nixon
Carter: least politically experienced president, won because he was moral but couldn’t manage congress and presidency marked by poor decisions/ lack of flexibility, stubborn and didn’t consult enough/look at political realities
