Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed Again

Presidencies Out of Balance

Recent US history presents many examples of presidential failure, enough to cause “a crisis of competence” in the office. To grasp the roots of this crisis, consider what successful presidents are good at: maintaining equilibrium among “policy, communication and implementation.”

Presidents who experienced major failures generally put too much emphasis on communication (“talking and messaging”) at the expense of policy and implementation. Political scientist James P. Pfiffner says the presidency should be “managerial,” meaning that the occupant of the Oval Office needs a firm understanding of the bureaucracy he or she heads. While scholars have debated and analyzed different aspects of the presidency for decades, including the process of reaching decisions, implementation is what counts – “what happens after a decision is made.”

Chief executives must understand not just the ramifications of the policies they support and enact, but the impact putting those policies into effect has on their office. This requires a keen grasp of the federal government’s “organizational culture.” It sounds less glamorous than the bully pulpit – but presidents...