War on the Ballot : How the Election Cycle Shapes Presidential Decision-Making in War

How do upcoming elections influence presidents’ behavior during wartime? __War on the Ballot__ examines how electoral politics shaped presidential decisions on military and diplomatic strategy during the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. "How do impending elections affect a U.S. president's decision making in wartime? At once commander in chief and holder of the highest elected office, U.S. presidents must balance the national interest and personal political survival when assessing strategies. While we all have an intuitive sense that elections "matter" in some way, exactly how, why, or when they do so is not well understood. Frequently invoked in an ad hoc manner to give color to historical accounts, the systematic analysis of the relationship between the electoral cycle and wartime decision making in particular is a blind spot in an otherwise rich literature on the domestic components of American foreign policy. Using a wealth of original documentary sources and interviews with dozens of senior administration officials and high-ranking generals, War on the Ballot reveals the surprisingly large role that electoral politics has played in all of America's major wars since 1945. In Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, critical decisions regarding military and diplomatic strategy were all too often taken with one eye on the domestic political calendar-sometimes with striking disregard for the national interest. Political scientist Andrew Payne models electoral pressures as a conditional source of constraint, which can push or pull presidents towards more belligerent or more cautious courses of action depending on their perception of the strategic and electoral dynamics at stake. The book captures the reality that both the anticipation of future election seasons and the memory of earlier commitments made on the campaign trail can have substantial impact on decision making-as can congressional midterm campaigns. At the highest level of national security policy, as one senior military officer concluded with dismay, it was "all about politics.""-- Provided by publisher Winner, 2024 Richard E. Neustadt Book Prize, American Politics Group, Political Studies AssociationThe president of the United States is at once holder of the highest elected office and commander in chief of the armed forces. How do upcoming elections influence presidents'behavior during wartime? How do presidents balance perceptions of the national interest with personal political interests?War on the Ballot examines how electoral politics shaped presidential decisions on military and diplomatic strategy during the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. Drawing on a wealth of declassified documents and interviews with senior officials and military officers, Andrew Payne reveals the surprisingly large role played by political considerations during conflicts. He demonstrates how the exigencies of the electoral cycle drove leaders to miss opportunities to limit the human and financial costs of each war, gain strategic advantage, or sue for peace, sometimes making critical decisions with striking disregard for the consequences on the ground. Payne emphasizes the importance of electoral pressures throughout the full course of a conflict, not just around the initial decision to intervene. He shows how electoral constraints operate across different phases of the political calendar, going beyond the period immediately preceding a presidential election.Offering a systematic analysis of the relationship between electoral politics and wartime decision-making, this book raises crucial questions about democratic accountability in foreign policy. The president of the United States is at once holder of the highest elected office and commander in chief of the armed forces. How do upcoming elections influence presidents' behavior during wartime? How do presidents balance perceptions of the national interest with personal political interests? War on the Ballot examines how electoral politics shaped presidential decisions on military and diplomatic strategy during the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. Drawing on a wealth of declassified documents and interviews with senior officials and military officers, Andrew Payne reveals the surprisingly large role played by political considerations during conflicts. He demonstrates how the exigencies of the electoral cycle drove leaders to miss opportunities to limit the human and financial costs of each war, gain strategic advantage, or sue for peace, sometimes making critical decisions with striking disregard for the consequences on the ground. Payne emphasizes the importance of electoral pressures throughout the full course of a conflict, not just around the initial decision to intervene. He shows how electoral constraints operate across different phases of the political calendar, going beyond the period immediately preceding a presidential election. Offering a systematic analysis of the relationship between electoral politics and wartime decision-making, this book raises crucial questions about democratic accountability in foreign policy.