The President as The President as a Persona Person

The Background of The Background of Various PresidentsVarious Presidents

Presidents are not typical Americans.Presidents are not typical Americans.

The Constitution requires that they The Constitution requires that they be older which implies greater be older which implies greater maturity. Of the 44 who have served, maturity. Of the 44 who have served, 25 have been in their 50s. Only 8 25 have been in their 50s. Only 8 have been in their 40s. None were have been in their 40s. None were elected in their 70s. Four were 65 elected in their 70s. Four were 65 or over upon taking office.or over upon taking office.

Most presidents have been well-Most presidents have been well-educated and attorneys (27 out of educated and attorneys (27 out of 44). Since the turn of the century, 44). Since the turn of the century, 9 presidents have been attorneys; 1 9 presidents have been attorneys; 1 journalist; 1 engineer; 3 business journalist; 1 engineer; 3 business men; 1 actor; 1 military; 2 men; 1 actor; 1 military; 2 educators; 1 store owner. Of modern educators; 1 store owner. Of modern presidents, only Truman did not have presidents, only Truman did not have a college degree. a college degree.

25 of 44 had expensive private higher 25 of 44 had expensive private higher education. 6 from Harvard. 3 from education. 6 from Harvard. 3 from Yale. Yale.

Presidents have also tended to Presidents have also tended to be from an elite social and be from an elite social and economic status. Kennedy came economic status. Kennedy came from a wealthy family, as did from a wealthy family, as did both Bushes.both Bushes.http://247wallst.com/banking-finance/2010/05/17/the-net-worth-of-the-american-presidents-washington-to-obama/

Ten of our presidents have Ten of our presidents have come from the same families. come from the same families. John Adams and John Q. Adams John Adams and John Q. Adams were father and son; William were father and son; William Henry and Benjamin Harrison Henry and Benjamin Harrison were grandfather and grandson; were grandfather and grandson; Theodore and F.D. Roosevelt Theodore and F.D. Roosevelt were cousins; James Madison were cousins; James Madison and Zachary Taylor had common and Zachary Taylor had common grandparents. George H. W. grandparents. George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.Bush and George W. Bush.

Only a few come from poor Only a few come from poor backgrounds: Nixon, Carter, backgrounds: Nixon, Carter, Clinton, Obama. Coolidge, Clinton, Obama. Coolidge, Nixon, and Reagan came closest Nixon, and Reagan came closest to having grown up in poverty, to having grown up in poverty, though hardly from the ghetto. though hardly from the ghetto. Lyndon Johnson had poor Lyndon Johnson had poor depression era beginnings. depression era beginnings.

Political experience: 27 of 44 Political experience: 27 of 44 served at least some time in served at least some time in Congress. 16 served some time Congress. 16 served some time as governor of a state. 14 as governor of a state. 14 served at least some time as served at least some time as vice-president. There has been vice-president. There has been a recent trend for service at a recent trend for service at the state level to be the the state level to be the dominant career path.dominant career path.

There is a predominance of There is a predominance of Southerners as president, Southerners as president, especially in recent times. especially in recent times. Since 1952, 6 of 12 presidents Since 1952, 6 of 12 presidents have been from the South. Why?have been from the South. Why?

Presidents have generally had Presidents have generally had poorer health than the general poorer health than the general population, having more ailments population, having more ailments while in office, and generally while in office, and generally dying at a younger age. dying at a younger age. Roosevelt and polio; Eisenhower Roosevelt and polio; Eisenhower and heart conditions; Kennedy and heart conditions; Kennedy and nerve and back conditions; and nerve and back conditions; Johnson, heart and kidney Johnson, heart and kidney ailments; Reagan, cancer; Bush ailments; Reagan, cancer; Bush I, hyperthyroid. Clinton, I, hyperthyroid. Clinton, oversexed, no heart ailments. oversexed, no heart ailments. George W. Bush, “foot-in-mouth” George W. Bush, “foot-in-mouth” disease.disease.

There is also a gender and racial There is also a gender and racial bias. Also bias toward having bias. Also bias toward having protestant, white, male presidents. No protestant, white, male presidents. No Jew or female; one African-American.Jew or female; one African-American.

Religion. Religion. Here is a link to the religious affiliations of all the presidents. Note that most early presidents were Episcopalian in name, but actually deists. Many had no religious affiliation prior to leaving office.

Many of our presidents have also been Many of our presidents have also been freemasons. Here are records. Link freemasons. Here are records. Link omits Jefferson, Madison, and Lyndon omits Jefferson, Madison, and Lyndon Johnson for certainty reasons, but Johnson for certainty reasons, but Johnson certainly was, and strong Johnson certainly was, and strong evidence that Madison was. evidence that Madison was.

Catholicism is largest denomination. Catholicism is largest denomination. Catholic Al Smith (1928) was defeated Catholic Al Smith (1928) was defeated by largest electoral vote margin in by largest electoral vote margin in American history, and second largest American history, and second largest popular vote margin. Smith was was the popular vote margin. Smith was was the first Democrat to lose the deeply first Democrat to lose the deeply Democratic and protestant South. Democratic and protestant South.

John Kennedy, also Catholic, won John Kennedy, also Catholic, won against Richard Nixon in 1960 by against Richard Nixon in 1960 by slimmest margin.slimmest margin.

What difference do all of these What difference do all of these demographic characteristics make? Some demographic characteristics make? Some would argue that they are the building would argue that they are the building blocks of personality. blocks of personality.

This may be, but it is not very This may be, but it is not very scientific to say that Nixon had scientific to say that Nixon had problems because he grew up in problems because he grew up in poverty. Or that Clinton had problems poverty. Or that Clinton had problems because he grew up in a single-parent because he grew up in a single-parent home? How does one know this is why he home? How does one know this is why he had problems? had problems?

It may also be that demographic It may also be that demographic characteristics affect the president’s characteristics affect the president’s ability to lead. Some might argue that ability to lead. Some might argue that there is a bias toward viewing men as there is a bias toward viewing men as leaders, and women as followers. The leaders, and women as followers. The bible???bible???

Does race affect the ability to lead? Does race affect the ability to lead? http://nyti.ms/15Ziodfhttp://nyti.ms/15Ziodf

Psychological Psychological OrientationsOrientations

Personality is an important Personality is an important influence on how the White influence on how the White House is run.House is run.

Control orientationControl orientation

Degree of involvementDegree of involvement

Organization of the White Organization of the White HouseHouse

Willingness to listen to Willingness to listen to advice.advice.

Political psychologist Fred Political psychologist Fred Greenstein outlined the Greenstein outlined the conditions under which we might conditions under which we might expect personal factors to affect expect personal factors to affect the impacts of presidents.the impacts of presidents.

Ability to restructure the Ability to restructure the environment. For example, environment. For example, organization and design of the organization and design of the White House staff may be affected White House staff may be affected by presidential personality. by presidential personality.

Location. The presidentLocation. The president’’s s capacity to lead depends on capacity to lead depends on structural factors. Sitting at structural factors. Sitting at the top of the executive branch the top of the executive branch is an advantage, but not is an advantage, but not uniformly so. The president may uniformly so. The president may have an easier time controlling have an easier time controlling an executive agency than an an executive agency than an independent agency. Under this independent agency. Under this circumstance the ability to circumstance the ability to persuade becomes more important.persuade becomes more important.

Personal Strengths and Personal Strengths and Weaknesses. Intellect, speaking Weaknesses. Intellect, speaking skills, integrity, leadership, skills, integrity, leadership, reputation.reputation.

Situational ambiguity. The Situational ambiguity. The more ambiguous a situation is, more ambiguous a situation is, the more likely that personal the more likely that personal attributes will be important. attributes will be important. Situations that are new are Situations that are new are often ambiguous (e.g., often ambiguous (e.g., response to September 11response to September 11thth). ). Ambiguity may also arise when Ambiguity may also arise when a situation is extremely a situation is extremely complex (e.g., Kennedy during complex (e.g., Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis). the Cuban missile crisis). Ambiguity may also arise when Ambiguity may also arise when there are conflicting there are conflicting perspectives (Homeland perspectives (Homeland security vs. loss of personal security vs. loss of personal freedoms).freedoms).

When evaluating the effect of When evaluating the effect of personality, we must ask personality, we must ask ourselves whether ourselves whether circumstances are present that circumstances are present that allow the person to have an allow the person to have an impact.impact.

James David BarberJames David Barber’’s comparative s comparative presidency work is seminal in the presidency work is seminal in the literature on the impact of literature on the impact of presidential personality. presidential personality.

He develops psychological He develops psychological profiles of the presidents and profiles of the presidents and seeks to explain presidential seeks to explain presidential performance and behavior in terms performance and behavior in terms of these psychological profiles.of these psychological profiles.

Three elements of presidential Three elements of presidential personality:personality:

Character-The way the president Character-The way the president orients himself toward life. orients himself toward life. Self-esteem and the pleasure the Self-esteem and the pleasure the person takes in meeting person takes in meeting challenges. Openness to challenges. Openness to criticism. How does the criticism. How does the president feel about himself. president feel about himself. Thinking rationally under Thinking rationally under criticism or stress. Attitude criticism or stress. Attitude toward learning the job. toward learning the job. Develops early in life during Develops early in life during childhood. Character colors both childhood. Character colors both the presidentthe president’’s style and world s style and world view, but does not determine them view, but does not determine them directly.directly.

Style-The way the president goes Style-The way the president goes about doing what the office about doing what the office requires him to do. The habitual requires him to do. The habitual way the president has of doing way the president has of doing things. Things like reliance on things. Things like reliance on rhetoric, personal relations, rhetoric, personal relations, and homework. To speak directly and homework. To speak directly to the media, the public, to to the media, the public, to large audiences, to deal face to large audiences, to deal face to face with other politicians, to face with other politicians, to read, write and calculate by read, write and calculate by himself in order to manage the himself in order to manage the endless flow of details. A endless flow of details. A predictable mechanism explaining predictable mechanism explaining how the president deals with how the president deals with people, tasks, and people, tasks, and communications. communications.

World View-How the president World View-How the president sees the world and his lasting sees the world and his lasting opinions about what he sees. opinions about what he sees. Primary, politically relevant Primary, politically relevant beliefs, particularly his beliefs, particularly his conceptions of 1) social conceptions of 1) social causality, 2) human nature, 3) causality, 2) human nature, 3) and the central moral conflicts and the central moral conflicts of the time.of the time.

Presidential character conditions Presidential character conditions the processing of information, the the processing of information, the consideration of options, and the consideration of options, and the making of decisions. making of decisions.

Presidential style-presidents set Presidential style-presidents set the tone for their White House. the tone for their White House. Formal or informal, consensual or Formal or informal, consensual or promotive of diverse viewpoints, promotive of diverse viewpoints, hierarchical or decentralized. Some hierarchical or decentralized. Some presidents have a desire to dominate presidents have a desire to dominate (Johnson and Nixon). Some hate (Johnson and Nixon). Some hate conflict (Reagan). Some have to be conflict (Reagan). Some have to be involved in almost everything involved in almost everything (Carter, to a fault wanted to (Carter, to a fault wanted to micromanage which was inefficient); micromanage which was inefficient); others are extremely detached others are extremely detached (Reagan, to a fault because he (Reagan, to a fault because he didndidn’’t have command of the details t have command of the details and was too dependent on advisors).and was too dependent on advisors).

World views- Presidents bring to World views- Presidents bring to office a set of beliefs about office a set of beliefs about politics, policy, human nature, and politics, policy, human nature, and social causality, in other words social causality, in other words beliefs about how the world works, beliefs about how the world works, that affect a frame of reference, that affect a frame of reference, serve as a filter for processing serve as a filter for processing information, potential boundaries of information, potential boundaries of action, and even supply an approach action, and even supply an approach to decision-making itself.to decision-making itself.

Other features Barber discusses: Other features Barber discusses: – Power situation-What is the Power situation-What is the relative power of the president relative power of the president with regard to other institutions with regard to other institutions and actors? Personality may have and actors? Personality may have more or less impact, depending on more or less impact, depending on the power situation.the power situation.

– Climate of expectations-What are Climate of expectations-What are the expectations placed on the the expectations placed on the president in a particular president in a particular situations? One could argue that situations? One could argue that George W. BushGeorge W. Bush’’s reaction to s reaction to September 11 was the perfect September 11 was the perfect condition for a cowboy mentality. condition for a cowboy mentality. The public expected a John Wayne The public expected a John Wayne act, and Bush was perfectly suited act, and Bush was perfectly suited to provide it. In contrast, how to provide it. In contrast, how would Bush have reacted to the Iran would Bush have reacted to the Iran hostage crisis in 1979?hostage crisis in 1979?

According to Barber, the three According to Barber, the three psychological components of psychological components of character, style, and world view character, style, and world view comprise a pattern of motives, comprise a pattern of motives, habits, and beliefs that result habits, and beliefs that result in behaviors that are evident in behaviors that are evident throughout life. They are a throughout life. They are a psychological foundation that psychological foundation that are not easily changed. Once are not easily changed. Once developed they tend to persist.developed they tend to persist.

Barber develops a typology of Barber develops a typology of presidents based on two presidents based on two concepts: activity levels and concepts: activity levels and affect. affect.

Activity levels are the energy Activity levels are the energy brought to the job. brought to the job.

Affect is the level of Affect is the level of satisfaction that is obtained satisfaction that is obtained from doing the job.from doing the job.

Active-Passive dimension Active-Passive dimension describes activity levels.describes activity levels.

Positive-Negative dimension Positive-Negative dimension describes orientation toward describes orientation toward the work.the work.

Effort level/Affect

Positive Negative

Active Adaptive: This presidential type is characteristic of an energetic president who enjoys his work and who tends to be productive and capable of adapting to new situations. Such a person generally feels confident and good about himself. Examples: F.D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush.

Compulsive:This type describes a president who works hard but does not gain much pleasure from it, and who tends to be intense, compulsive, and aggressive. He may pursue his public actions in a self-interested manner. Such a person generally feels insecure and uses his position to overcome those feelings of inadequacy and even impotency. ; Examples: Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon

Passive Compliant: This type describes a relatively receptive laid-back individual who wants to gain agreement and mute dissent at all costs. Such a person is apt to feel pessimistic and unloved at a deep psychological level. As president, the passive-positive individual attempts to compensate for these feelings by being overly optimistic and by continually trying to elicit agreement and support from others. Examples: Taft, Harding, Reagan.

Withdrawn: This presidential type can be said to abhor politics and withdraw from interpersonal relationships. Such an individual is ill-suited for political office, much less the nation’s highest one. He or she suffers from low-self esteem and a sense of uselessness and is apt to take refuge in generalized principles and standard procedures. Examples: Coolidge and Eisenhower.

Barber retired around the time Barber retired around the time of the Clinton presidency and of the Clinton presidency and did not rate later presidents. did not rate later presidents. Others have, though.Others have, though.

What was Clinton? Barber rated What was Clinton? Barber rated active-positive. See also John active-positive. See also John Dean.Dean. http://verdict.justia.com/2012http://verdict.justia.com/2012/02/10/predicting-/02/10/predicting-presidential-performance presidential-performance

What was George W. Bush? What was George W. Bush? http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dhttp://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20040521.html ean/20040521.html

What is Obama? What is Obama? http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dhttp://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20081114.html ean/20081114.html

Critique of BarberCritique of Barber’’s work.s work.

Classification of presidents Classification of presidents using Barberusing Barber’’s scheme is highly s scheme is highly subjective and may result from subjective and may result from confounding factors. For example, confounding factors. For example, Eisenhower is classified as Eisenhower is classified as Passive-Negative. He was clearly Passive-Negative. He was clearly a passive president, but how do a passive president, but how do we know that this was a function we know that this was a function of personality, rather than of personality, rather than ideology. Ike was a believer in ideology. Ike was a believer in less government. Could it be that less government. Could it be that he was passive so as to not have he was passive so as to not have an activist presidency due to an activist presidency due to this ideology? Barber actually this ideology? Barber actually changed his mind about changed his mind about Eisenhower.Eisenhower.

BarberBarber’’s scheme may also be too s scheme may also be too simplistic. Presidents may vary simplistic. Presidents may vary on continua from active to on continua from active to passive and positive to negative. passive and positive to negative. So why try to place them in So why try to place them in discrete cells. Some presidents discrete cells. Some presidents may be hyperactive: Clinton is may be hyperactive: Clinton is probably an example. Other probably an example. Other presidents may just be active presidents may just be active without the expenditure of without the expenditure of frenetic energy: Kennedy and FDR frenetic energy: Kennedy and FDR would be examples.would be examples.

Also, it is not so easy to Also, it is not so easy to classify presidents as positive classify presidents as positive or negative. Clinton was or negative. Clinton was classified by Barber as classified by Barber as positive. He enjoyed politics, positive. He enjoyed politics, relished the work of the relished the work of the presidency, and was a very presidency, and was a very public person. On the other public person. On the other hand, he reacted negatively to hand, he reacted negatively to attacks from the media and the attacks from the media and the continual criticisms that came continual criticisms that came from the right wing of the from the right wing of the Republican party.Republican party.

Barber claims that the active-Barber claims that the active-positive makes the best positive makes the best president. However, not all president. However, not all active-positives have been good active-positives have been good presidents: Jimmy Carter, George presidents: Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and William J. H.W. Bush, and William J. Clinton. Likewise, there have Clinton. Likewise, there have been some great presidents who been some great presidents who were active-negative: Woodrow were active-negative: Woodrow Wilson and Abraham Lincoln.Wilson and Abraham Lincoln.

Classifying Presidential Classifying Presidential GreatnessGreatness

Commonly, historians have Commonly, historians have developed rankings of developed rankings of presidential greatness based presidential greatness based on polls of historians. on polls of historians. Schlesinger started this in Schlesinger started this in the 1940s.the 1940s.

The most highly ranked The most highly ranked presidents are consistently presidents are consistently Washington, Lincoln, Franklin Washington, Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Harry S. Woodrow Wilson, and Harry S. Truman.Truman.

A more objective approach is A more objective approach is taken by the C-Span rankings. The taken by the C-Span rankings. The criteria for evaluation are:criteria for evaluation are:

– Public persuasionPublic persuasion– Relations with CongressRelations with Congress– International relationsInternational relations– Economic managementEconomic management– Administrative skillsAdministrative skills– Moral authorityMoral authority– Crisis leadershipCrisis leadership– Vision and agenda settingVision and agenda setting– Performance within the context Performance within the context of the timesof the times

– Pursued equal justice for allPursued equal justice for all

Question: On a scale from 1 to Question: On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rank George W. 10, how would you rank George W. Bush on each of these criteria? Bush on each of these criteria? Obama? Discuss.Obama? Discuss.

Is there political bias in how Is there political bias in how one would rank Bush? Obama?one would rank Bush? Obama?

A variety of polls have been A variety of polls have been conducted through the years, conducted through the years, based largely on public based largely on public opinion. Bias?opinion. Bias?

Simonton attempted to get Simonton attempted to get around the political bias around the political bias problem by using some purely problem by using some purely objective indicators. His objective indicators. His indicators are:indicators are:

Length of service.Length of service.– War-time presidencyWar-time presidency– Assassinated presidentAssassinated president– ScandalScandal– War hero prior to entering War hero prior to entering officeoffice

– Intellectual brillianceIntellectual brilliance

Question: How would you rank Question: How would you rank George W. Bush on each of these George W. Bush on each of these dimensions? dimensions?

Barack Obama? Barack Obama?

Let’s look at the various Let’s look at the various rankings.rankings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_PresideHistorical_rankings_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States#2012_nts_of_the_United_States#2012_Gallup_poll Gallup_poll