waxing and waning power of a president

Question 1

what is waxing power?

Answer 1

growing

Question 2

what is waning power?

Answer 2

decreasing

Question 3

what President has a good example of waxing then waning power? (1st example)

Answer 3

Nixon’s 2nd term

Question 4

describe his waxing power:

Answer 4

-he won one of the largest election landslides in US history, with 520 electoral college votes
-he had a successful beginning to his 1st term e.g. worked towards end of Vietnam war, diplomatic ties with China such as through the strategic arms limitation treaty
-in 1973 he had a 68% gallup poll approval rating
-he made big decisions .g. enhancing the importance of the national security council, reorganisation of bureau of budget to created the office of the management and budget

Question 5

describe his waning power:

Answer 5

-caused by watergate scandal
-this was where he got associates to break into the democratic offices to steal plans for their campaign
-Nixon tried to cover it up by 2 reporters revealed Nixon’s role in the conspiracy
-his approval ratings fell to 48%
-it was revealed that Nixon had obstructed justice by paying hush money to the associates
-on the 9th of august 1974 he resigned, because it was imminent that he would be impeached

Question 6

what president has a good example of waxing then waning power? (2nd example)

Answer 6

Obama

Question 7

describe his waxing power:

Answer 7

-he was elected on a wave of optimism and had a successful first 100 days
-he received the highest approval ratings of that period since the 1970s
-initially the democrats controlled both houses which allowed Obama to carry out his agenda e.g. passing his economic stimulus and most notably the affordable care act in 2010

Question 8

describe his waning power:

Answer 8

-he lost control of congress in 2010 midterms when the republicans won the house
-he then faced the challenge of divided government BUT his personal popularity remained strong and he won a second term in 2012
-but he was hated by many conservatives and politics became increasingly polarised
-Obama couldn’t convince congress to pass tighter gun control laws
-in the 2014 midterms the senate was also lost to the republicans
-it was then even more difficult for him to get legislation passed
-to avoid becoming a lame duck president (where one struggles to implement policy objectives) he relied on executive orders and agreements which he could do without congress’ support
-but these executive orders weren’t always successful e.g. his order to protect some illegal immigrants from deportation was challenged by 26 states and blocked by the SC in 2016