Who Leads Whom?: Presidents, Policy, and the Public (Studies in Communication, Media, and Public Opinion)

Who Leads Whom? is an ambitious study that addresses some of the most important questions in contemporary American politics: Do presidents pander to public opinion by backing popular policy measures that they believe would actually harm the country? Why do presidents "go public" with policy appeals? And do those appeals affect legislative outcomes? Analyzing the actions of modern presidents ranging from Eisenhower to Clinton, Brandice Canes-Wrone demonstrates that presidents' involvement of the mass public, by putting pressure on Congress, shifts policy in the direction of majority opinion. More important, she also shows that presidents rarely cater to the mass citizenry unless they already agree with the public's preferred course of action. With contemporary politics so connected to the pulse of the American people, Who Leads Whom? offers much-needed insight into how public opinion actually works in our democratic process. Integrating perspectives from presidential studies, legislative politics, public opinion, and rational choice theory, this theoretical and empirical inquiry will appeal to a wide range of scholars of American political processes. Contents......Page 8 List of Tables and Figures......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 16 1. Presidents' Involvement of the Mass Public......Page 20 Part I. Public Appeals......Page 34 2. A Theory of Public Appeals......Page 38 3. Domestic Policy Appeals......Page 70 4. Foreign Policy Appeals......Page 102 Part II. Policy Pandering and Leadership......Page 122 5. Incentives for Policy Pandering......Page 130 6. Examples of Policy Pandering and Leadership......Page 150 7. Patterns of Presidential Decisions......Page 176 8. Chief Executives, Policymaking, and the Public......Page 204 References......Page 212 Name Index......Page 224 Subject Index ......Page 228 Analysing The Actions Of Modern Us Presidents, From Eisenhower To Clinton, Brandice Canes-wrone Demonstrates That Presidents' Involvement Of The Mass Public In Policy Appeals Puts Pressure On Congress And Shifts Policy In The Direction Of Majority Opinion. President's Involvement Of The Mass Public -- A Theory Of Public Appeals -- Domestic Policy Appeals -- Foreign Policy Appeals -- Incentives For Policy Pandering -- Examples Of Policy Pandering And Leadership -- Patterns Of Presidential Decisions With Kenneth W. Shotts -- Chief Executives, Policymaking, And The Public. Brandice Canes-wrone. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [193]-203) And Index. Contents 8 List of Tables and Figures 10 Preface 12 Acknowledgments 16 1. Presidents' Involvement of the Mass Public 20 Part I. Public Appeals 34 2. A Theory of Public Appeals 38 3. Domestic Policy Appeals 70 4. Foreign Policy Appeals 102 Part II. Policy Pandering and Leadership 122 5. Incentives for Policy Pandering 130 6. Examples of Policy Pandering and Leadership 150 7. Patterns of Presidential Decisions 176 8. Chief Executives, Policymaking, and the Public 204 References 212 Name Index 224 Subject Index 228 9780226092805