Going Public: New Strategies of Presidential Leadership

Presidents are uniquely positioned to promote themselves and their polices directly to the public. Using sympathetic crowds as a backdrop, a president can rally public opinion to his side, along the way delivering a subtle yet unmistakable message to his intended audience in Congress. Samuel Kernell shows how “going public” remains a potent weapon in the president’s arsenal, both for advancing his own agenda and blocking initiatives from his political adversaries in Congress. In his highly anticipated fourth edition, Kernell delivers thorough analysis and detailed background on how this strategy continues to evolve given the intense polarization of Congress and the electorate as well as changes in communications technology. He considers the implications of both factors—especially in combination—on the future of presidential leadership and weighs the lessons of 9/11 on “going public” in foreign affairs. Cover Contents Preface Chapter 1 - Introduction: Going Public in Theory and Practice Chapter 2 - How Washington Has Changed Chapter 3 - How the Politicians Entering Washington Have Changed: Outsiders and Divided Government Chapter 4 - The President and the Press Chapter 5 - The Growth of Going Public Chapter 6 - President Reagan and His First Three Budgets: A Classic Case of Going Public in Action Chapter 7 - Opinion Leadership and Foreign Affairs Chapter 8 - Present and Future Prospects for Going Public Index