DOCSLIB.ORG

The Domestic Policy of Jimmy Carter, 1977 - 1981

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Domestic Policy of Jimmy Carter, 1977 - 1981 View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Queen Mary Research Online Student ID Number 089519314/2 The Managerial Moralist: The Domestic Policy of Jimmy Carter, 1977 - 1981 Robert Kirby Green Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 1 Queen Mary University of London, October 2018 I, Robert Kirby Green, confirm that the research included within this thesis is my own work or that where it has been carried out in collaboration with, or supported by others, that this is duly acknowledged below, and my contribution indicated. Previously published material is also acknowledged below. I attest that I have exercised reasonable care to ensure that the work is original and does not to the best of my knowledge break any UK law, infringe any third party’s copyright or other Intellectual Property Right, or contain any confidential material. I accept that the College has the right to use plagiarism detection software to check the electronic version of the thesis. I confirm that this thesis has not been previously submitted for the award of a degree by this or any other University. I confirm that this thesis rests with author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author. Signature: R K Green Date: 22 October 2018 2 Abstract Elected President on 2 November 1976, Jimmy Carter, was little known outside Georgia and was the first politician from the deep South to be elected since the Civil War and with the briefest record of public service since Woodrow Wilson. He presented himself as an outsider, not part of the Washington establishment, who would bring back an ethical, competent government. However, his devastating electoral defeat to Ronald Reagan in 1980, the worst for an incumbent since 1932, set the seal on what was widely regarded as a failed presidency. Carter’s much praised humanitarian record since he left office in 1981 has not prompted any serious re-evaluation by historians. This study dissects Carter’s domestic policies, re-evaluating the unresolved questions relating to Carter’s character and ideology and to put his presidency in the proper historic context. I will begin by reviewing the relevant historiography, the important issues of the decade and his early political life, including his triumph in 1976. I will then seek to address Carter’s leadership by analysing how his administration was organised, and exploring the key domestic policy issues, principally the economy, energy, health, welfare, labour and his approach to the social changes that dominated America in the 1970’s. I will conclude with his failed attempt to be re-elected in 1980. In conclusion I will comment on Carter’s overall effectiveness as a leader and how he should be ranked against other modern Presidents. This thesis is based on a wide range of sources including extensive use of collections from the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the Papers of the Presidents of the United States, oral history transcripts, published papers and numerous other primary and secondary sources covering political, economic and social issues. 3 Contents Introduction 5 1. Organisation and Communication 40 2. The Economic Challenge 94 3. The Energy Crisis 135 4. Health and Welfare: The Betrayal of the Liberals? 169 5. Labour: A Fragile Alliance 206 6. Culture Wars 235 7. 1980: The Battle against Kennedy and Reagan 272 8. Conclusion 313 Bibliography 337 4 Introduction Presidential biographers and political historians have been harsh in their judgement of the Carter Presidency. Most have regarded him as a failure both in terms of his skills in the role and his ability to deliver on his key programmes. The few who have taken a revisionist position have not disagreed that he had significant failures but sought to put these in the context of the difficulties he faced which they argued were beyond his control. If his reputation as President could not be revised some have sought to unravel the enigma of his character and identify the basis of his ideology and beliefs in a wider context. The early historians of the Carter Presidency condemned his leadership and overall effectiveness, with some even questioning his character.1 Whilst Haynes Johnson in The Absence of Power (1980) and Burton and Scott Kaufman in The Presidency of James Earl Carter (2006) acknowledged the difficulties he faced, they argued that Carter’s failure was one of leadership style. He failed to articulate a vision for America and provide a coherent agenda that could deliver significant change. His administration’s poor relations with Congress, the press and even Washington as a whole, were viewed as avoidable. He failed to build relationships with key Washington insiders that were essential to him achieving success. His advisors lacked insider 1 Clark Mollenhoff, The President who Failed. Carter out of Control (London: MacMillan, 1980). Peter Meyer, James Earl Carter. The Man and the Myth (Kansas City: Sheed, Andrews and McMeet, 1978). Laurence Shoup, The Carter Presidency and Beyond Power and Politics in 1980’s (Palo Alto: Ramparts Press, 1980). Robert Shogan Promises to Keep, Carter’s First One Hundred Days (New York: Crowell, 1977). 5 knowledge and political expertise. 2 They characterised Carter as a mediocre President who, despite having an understanding of the will of the electorate, lacked the political know-how to carry the country with him.3 Some, like William Leuchtenberg in The Shadow of FDR: From Harry Truman to Barack Obama (2009), viewed Carter’s failure as inevitable as he did not take the opportunity to build upon the traditional Democratic coalition but tried to distance himself from his natural constituency.4 Kenneth Morris, in Jimmy Carter: American Moralist (1996) argued that Carter failed because he created a view of public morality that ultimately was too pessimistic for the public he was trying to influence. He tried to give personal moral leadership but was unable to support that with a vision to inspire the electorate.5 The deficiencies in Jimmy Carter’s character were the subject of several articles and biographies. In a 1983 Presidential Studies Quarterly article, Barbara Kellerman argued that Carter’s introverted nature hampered his ability to build key relationships. He acted always as the outsider. Even within his administration’s decision-making process he played a solitary role with his focus being on study rather than discussion.6 To Betty Glad, in Jimmy Carter: In Search of the Great White House (1980), Carter was a traditional politician who argued for change but did little effective to achieve it. He lacked a coherent plan and he hedged his positions when pressed. She argued that he did not act for the public good and used public relations for 2 Haynes Johnson, In the Absence of Power. Governing America (New York: Viking, 1980) and Burton Kaufman & Scott Kaufman, The Presidency of James Earl Carter (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2006). 3 Ibid. 4 William Leuchtenberg, In the Shadow of FDR. From Harry Truman to Barack Obama (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2009). 5 Kenneth Morris, Jimmy Carter: American Moralist (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1996). 6 Barbara Kellerman, ‘Introversion in the Oval Office’ Presidential Studies Quarterly Vol 13 (Summer 1983): 383-399. 6 his own ends. Also, he did not take criticism well nor did he learn from mistakes, both of which damaged his administration.7 The most critical of the scholars were those who studied the office of the Presidency in general. Fred Greenstein’s The Presidential Difference: Leadership Style from FDR to George W Bush (2004), John Burke’s Presidential Transitions: From Politics to Practice (2000), James Pfiffner’s The Modern Presidency (2008) and Richard Neustadt’s Presidential Power and Modern Presidents: The Politics of Leadership from Roosevelt to Reagan (1990) 8 studied the key factors that made for successful presidencies. They argued that effectively presidents required a core set of skills such as being a good communicator, having a strategic sense, being persuasive, having managerial skills, self- discipline and emotional intelligence.9 Measured against these criteria, except for self-discipline, all these writers found Carter wanting. His inability to persuade the public over energy and economic policy, his poor relations with Congress and the national press and his inability to articulate a coherent vision for his administration were all characteristic of a failure of leadership. Those that focussed on organisational issues criticised Carter’s management style. They highlighted specifically his failure to select staff with experience of Washington and to appoint a chief of staff until much later in his administration. They argued that his belief in cabinet government 7 Betty Glad, Jimmy Carter. In Search of the Great White House (New York: W Norton, 1980). 8Fred Greenstein, The Presidential Difference: Leadership Style from FDR to George W Bush (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2004) John P Burke, Presidential Transitions: From Politics to Practice (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 2000) James Pfiffner, The Modern Presidency (Boston: Wadsworth Engage Learning, 2008) and Richard Neustadt, Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents. The Politics of Leadership from Roosevelt to Reagan (New York: Free Press, 1990). 9 Greenstein, Presidential Difference. 7 resulted in policies that failed to consider not only the political realities but often the views of Carter himself.10 Revisionists’ view of the Carter Presidency did not really challenge the concept that Carter was an unsuccessful president. Their argument was in effect a plea for mitigation that given the problems he faced it would have taken someone with the skills of a Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) to succeed.11 In the Press and the Carter Presidency (1989), Mark Rozell argued that a more favourable view of Carter started in 1989.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • “From the Cracks in the Sidewalks of NYC”: The
    “From the Cracks in the Sidewalks of N.Y.C.”: The Embodied Production of Urban Decline, Survival, and Renewal in New York’s Fiscal-Crisis-Era Streets, 1977-1983 by Elizabeth Healy Matassa B.A. in Italian and French Studies, May 2003, University of Delaware M.A. in Geography, May 2006, Louisiana State University A Dissertation submitted to The Faculty of The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 31, 2014 Dissertation directed by Suleiman Osman Associate Professor of American Studies The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of the George Washington University certifies that Elizabeth Healy Matassa has passed the Final Examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy as of August 21, 2013. This is the final and approved form of the dissertation. “From the Cracks in the Sidewalks of N.Y.C.”: The Embodied Production of Decline, Survival, and Renewal in New York’s Fiscal-Crisis-Era Streets, 1977-1983 Elizabeth Healy Matassa Dissertation Research Committee: Suleiman Osman, Associate Professor of American Studies, Dissertation Director Elaine Peña, Associate Professor of American Studies, Committee Member Elizabeth Chacko, Associate Professor of Geography and International Affairs, Committee Member ii ©Copyright 2013 by Elizabeth Healy Matassa All rights reserved iii Dedication The author wishes to dedicate this dissertation to the five boroughs. From Woodlawn to the Rockaways: this one’s for you. iv Abstract of Dissertation “From the Cracks in the Sidewalks of N.Y.C.”: The Embodied Production of Urban Decline, Survival, and Renewal in New York’s Fiscal-Crisis-Era Streets, 1977-1983 This dissertation argues that New York City’s 1970s fiscal crisis was not only an economic crisis, but was also a spatial and embodied one.
    [Show full text]
  • David Hume Kennerly Archive Creation Project
    DAVID HUME KENNERLY ARCHIVE CREATION PROJECT 50 YEARS BEHIND THE SCENES OF HISTORY The David Hume Kennerly Archive is an extraordinary collection of images, objects and recollections created and collected by a great American photographer, journalist, artist and historian documenting 50 years of United States and world history. The goal of the DAVID HUME KENNERLY ARCHIVE CREATION PROJECT is to protect, organize and share its rare and historic objects – and to transform its half-century of images into a cutting-edge digital educational tool that is fully searchable and available to the public for research and artistic appreciation. 2 DAVID HUME KENNERLY Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist David Hume Kennerly has spent his career documenting the people and events that have defined the world. The last photographer hired by Life Magazine, he has also worked for Time, People, Newsweek, Paris Match, Der Spiegel, Politico, ABC, NBC, CNN and served as Chief White House Photographer for President Gerald R. Ford. Kennerly’s images convey a deep understanding of the forces shaping history and are a peerless repository of exclusive primary source records that will help educate future generations. His collection comprises a sweeping record of a half-century of history and culture – as if Margaret Bourke-White had continued her work through the present day. 3 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE The David Hume Kennerly collection of photography, historic artifacts, letters and objects might be one of the largest and most historically significant private collections ever produced and collected by a single individual. Its 50-year span of images and objects tells the complete story of the baby boom generation.
    [Show full text]
  • Granum, Deputy Press Secretary
    Exit Interview with Rex Granum, Deputy Press Secretary Interviewer: Dr. Thomas Soapes of the Presidential Papers Staff December 10, 1980, in Rex Granum’s office in the White House Transcriber: Lyn Kirkland and Winnie Hoover Soapes: Let's start with a little bit of your background. Could you give me where you were born and your formal education? Granum: Born in Dayton, Ohio. My father was in Civil Service, so we did live in a number of Southern towns - Mobile, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee. Grew up in Warner Robins, Georgia, from the third grade on went to public schools there. The University of Georgia --- journalism degree. I went--when I graduated from the University of Georgia, I went to the Atlanta Constitution, the morning paper in Atlanta, and eventually began to be a political writer there and came over and covered state government, covering Governor Jimmy Carter, his Press Secretary, Jody Powell, and his Executive Secretary, Hamilton Jordan, and then Frank Moore succeeded Hamilton when Hamilton went to--came to Washington during that change. So, that was the main point at which I became acquainted with the political beat. Soapes: How long were you on the political beat? Granum: Uh, I guess two years--two and a half years, something like that. Soapes: So the last--you say the last couple of years were--. Granum: --Yes. I covered the last six months of his time in the Governor's Office. And from March of '74--so it was longer than six months --I went over to the State Capitol in March of '74 and stayed there until early January of '76 and, of course, the President--or the Governor's term--Governor at that time, his term ended in January of '75.
    [Show full text]
  • Foreign Policy/Domestic Politics Memo, HJ Memo, 6/77 Container: 34A
    Collection: Office of the Chief of Staff Files Series: Hamilton Jordan's Confidential Files Folder: Foreign Policy/Domestic Politics Memo, HJ Memo, 6/77 Container: 34a Folder Citation: Office of the Chief of Staff Files, Hamilton Jordan's Confidential Files, Foreign Policy/Domestic Politics Memo, HJ Memo, 6/77, Container 34a Subject Terms: Foreign Policy Jimmy Carter Library 441 Freedom Parkway Atlanta GA 30307-1 ARCHIVAL NOTE~ The pages of this memo were originally unnumbered, then became out of order. The correct order and page numbers were then determined by comparison with an early photocopy of the document which retained the original correct order. The pencilled in numbers in brackets at the bottom of the pages represents the correct original order. During the time the pages were out of order, the page numbers were off by as much as 10 pages. The correct order was restored in September, 2008 ADN A Presidential Library Administered by the National Arcbtves and Records Administmtion ." ~#f" ! i~,". \ .. rI~,' Ill; ~f'f~ /? »7 1~l J~ i'· iit );'! ~j,:. ~£t~ <:O.?:FIDEWFIAL,LEYESONLY ~hi· ~t~' i f~ ~.:i- ~: i•.i.. H t. i· ~~: .TO: PRESIDENT CARTER ,~ t~ FROM: HAMILTON JORDAN~)( ·p"'·.··.··· f."r,.;.. L t·~ ~:;, F I have attempted in this memorandum to measure the ft -~ ~. domestic political implications of your foreign policy .~ t~•l~:.. I) and outline a comprehensive approach for winning public :kl~ ~~ and Congressional support for specific foreign policy ~t~.; :.¥ initiatives •... ~!~ ~ .I!-i ;~ 'r'n As this is highly sensitive subject matter, I typed ltit~. (.,~. this memorandum myself and the one other copy is in ;;i r~f.~ my office safe.
    [Show full text]
  • Remarks to the Democratic Leadership Council National Conversation June 4, 1998
    June 4 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1998 Remarks to the Democratic Leadership Council National Conversation June 4, 1998 Thank you, Antonio, for that wonderful intro- And we have fundamentally, especially here duction. Thank you, Senator Lieberman, Gov- at the DLC, been a group of Democrats com- ernor Romer, Al From, and Will, and all the mitted to ideas. And in that sense, we have other folks here from the DLC. I thank Gov- embraced one of the central gems of wisdom ernor Carper and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen of the greatest Republican President, Abraham Kennedy Townsend, all the other elected offi- Lincoln, who, in a very eloquent series of state- cials who are here. I thank Jill Docking for ments that I'm sure many of you remember her work on this important project. by heart, reminded us that we could never build And let me say, I'm very glad to be here, our country up by tearing others down. I am and I wish that I could sit here for a couple proud to be a New Democrat with all of you. of hours and listen to you, instead of the other We have called our approach ``the third way,'' way around. I find I nearly always fail to learn with a Government that is more active, more things when I am doing the talking. But I am effective, less expensive; one that can bring us honored to be here. And I just took a little together and move us forward, not drive us picture in the next room with the elected offi- apart and set us back.
    [Show full text]
  • ABSTRACT POLITICAL (IN)DISCRETION: HILLARY CLINTON's RESPONSE to the LEWINSKY SCANDAL by Kelsey Snyder Through an Examination
    ABSTRACT POLITICAL (IN)DISCRETION: HILLARY CLINTON’S RESPONSE TO THE LEWINSKY SCANDAL by Kelsey Snyder Through an examination of gender, politics, and media during the time of the Lewinsky scandal, this project shows that conversations about the first lady shifted throughout 1998. Just after the allegations were made public, the press and American people fought against the forthright position that Hillary took; the expectations of traditional first ladies they had known before were not met. After facing backlash via the press, the first lady receded to more acceptably defined notions of her actions, based largely in late 20th century conservative definitions of appropriate gender roles. By the end of 1998, consideration of a run for the Senate and increased public support for her more traditional image provided a compromise for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s public image. Having finally met the expectations of the nation, the press spoke less of the first lady in comparison to family values and almost exclusively by means of her political abilities. POLITICAL (IN)DISCRETION: HILLARY CLINTON’S RESPONSE TO THE LEWINSKY SCANDAL A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Miami University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Department of History by Kelsey Snyder Miami University Oxford, Ohio 2015 Advisor __________________________________________ Kimberly Hamlin Reader ___________________________________________ Marguerite Shaffer Reader ___________________________________________ Monica Schneider TABLE OF CONTENTS
    [Show full text]
  • ED 121 472 EDRS PRICE Change Agents
    DOCUMENT REBORE ED 121 472 PS 008 541 AUTHOR Forgione, Pascal D., Jr.; And Others TITLE ThG Rationales for Early Childhood Education Policy Making: A Comparative Case Study Analysis. INSTITUTION Hewitt Research Center, Berrien Springs, Mich. SPONS AGENCY Office of Economic Opportunity, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO OB0-50079-G-73-02 PUB DATE Sep 75 NOTE 398p..; For related document, see ED 114 208 EDRS PRICE MF-$0.83 HC- $20.75 Plus Postage DESCRIPTORS Change Agents; Change Strategies; Comparative Analysis; *Early Childhood Education; Educational Legislation; Educationally Disadvantaged; Federal Legislation; *Government Role; Handicapped Children; *Kindergarten; *Policy Formation; Preschool Programs; Research Methodology; School Funds; Social Welfare; State Legislation:, *State Surveys ABSTRACT This report describes early childhood education policy making and legislation in several states and discusses research methodology for comparative case study research. The first part of the study proviaes a historical account of the emergence of the national compulsory attendance movement in the 19th century, and the corresponding growth of early childhood education. In the second part of the report, extensive case studies of five states (West Virginia, California, New Mexico, Ohio, and Georgia) that initiated kindergarten legislation between 1971 and 1973 are presented. Considered in each state case study are such issues as: (1) rationales that state policy makers have used to support early childhood education policy initiatives, (2) background of the reform, (3) response to proposed legislation,(4) development of the change, (5) opposition to the reform, and (6) legislative leadership necessary to effect the change. Social, political, fiscal, and research rationales of the reform legislation are discussed and compared.
    [Show full text]
  • California Government
    330673_fm.qxd 02/02/05 1:04 PM Page i California Government CengageNot for Learning Reprint 330673_fm.qxd 02/02/05 1:04 PM Page ii CengageNot for Learning Reprint 330673_fm.qxd 02/02/05 1:04 PM Page iii ######## California Government Fourth Edition John L. Korey California State Polytechnic University, Pomona CengageNot for Learning Reprint Houghton Mifflin Company Boston New York 330673_fm.qxd 02/02/05 1:04 PM Page iv DEDICATION To Mary, always and to the newest family members— Welcome to California Publisher: Charles Hartford Sponsoring Editor: Katherine Meisenheimer Assistant Editor: Christina Lembo Editorial Assistant: Kristen Craib Associate Project Editor: Teresa Huang Editorial Assistant: Jake Perry Senior Art and Design Coordinator: Jill Haber Senior Photo Editor: Jennifer Meyer Dare Senior Composition Buyer: Sarah Ambrose Manufacturing Coordinator: Carrie Wagner Executive Marketing Manager: Nicola Poser Marketing Associate: Kathleen Mellon Cover image: Primary California Photography, © Harold Burch, New York City. California State Bear Photo © Bob Rowan, Progressive Image/CORBIS. Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written permission of Houghton Mifflin Company unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law. Address inquiries to College Permissions, Houghton Mifflin
    [Show full text]
  • John Ben Shepperd, Jr. Memorial Library Catalog
    John Ben Shepperd, Jr. Memorial Library Catalog Author Other Authors Title Call Letter Call number Volume Closed shelf Notes Donated By In Memory Of (unkown) (unknown) history of the presidents for children E 176.1 .Un4 Closed shelf 1977 Inaugural Committee A New Spirit, A New Commitment, A New America F 200 .A17 (1977) Ruth Goree and Jane Brown 1977 Inaugural Committee A New Spirit, A New Commitment, A New America F 200 .A17 (1977) Anonymous 1977 Inaugural Committee A New Spirit, A New Commitment, A New America F 200 .A17 (1977) Bobbie Meadows Beulah Hodges 1977 Inaugural Committee A New Spirit, A New Commitment, A New America F 200 .A17 (1977) 1977 Inaugural Committee A New Spirit, A New Commitment, A New America F 200 .A17 (1977) 1977 Inaugural Committee A New Spirit, A New Commitment, A New America F 200 .A17 (1977) 1977 Inaugural Committee A New Spirit, A New Commitment, A New America F 200 .A17 (1977) 1981 Presidential Inaugural Committee (U.S.) A Great New Beginning: the 1981 Inaugural Story E 877.2 .G73 A Citizen of Western New York Bancroft, George Memoirs of General Andrew Jackson, Seventh President of the United States E 382 .M53 Closed shelf John Ben Shepperd A.P.F., Inc. A Catalogue of Frames, Fifteenth Century to Present N 8550 .A2 (1973) A.P.F. Inc. Aaron, Ira E. Carter, Sylvia Take a Bow PZ 8.9 .A135 Abbott, David W. Political Parties: Leadership, Organization, Linkage JK 2265 .A6 Abbott, John S.C. Conwell, Russell H. Lives of the Presidents of the United States of America E 176.1 .A249 Closed shelf Ector County Library Abbott, John S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pennsylvania State University
    The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School REMEMBERING JIMMY CARTER THE RHETORICAL EVOCATIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIES A Thesis in Communication Arts and Sciences by Brandon M. Johnson 2020 Brandon M. Johnson Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts August 2020 The thesis of Brandon M. Johnson was reviewed and approved by the following: Mary E. Stuckey Professor, Communication Arts and Sciences Thesis Advisor Stephen H. Browne Liberal Arts Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences Michael J. Steudeman Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Director of CAS100A Denise H. Solomon Head and Liberal Arts Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences iii ABSTRACT This thesis is an analysis of the public memory of Jimmy Carter and the way the historical resources of his presidency (including his perceived moral character) are interpreted and evoked as a shorthand for presidential failure by associating him with a rhetoric of weakness. Broadly, I consider the nature of presidential memory, asking how a presidency passes from history to memory. I suggest that presidential histories serve as inventional resources in the present, with rhetors evoking interpretations of the past as rhetorical appeals. These appeals are acts of memory, and analyzing how they function discursively and are deployed strategically draws out how presidential memory works and what implications it has to presidential rhetoric. The different strategies used in remembering the presidency of Jimmy Carter are useful texts for rhetorically critiquing this process because Carter is often deployed as a rhetorical shorthand, providing a representative example of interpreting presidential pasts. I begin by considering the evolving scholarship and historiography on Carter and conceptualizing how presidential pasts can be interpreted in the present through acts of remembering.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislators of California
    The Legislators of California March 2011 Compiled by Alexander C. Vassar Dedicated to Jane Vassar For everything With Special Thanks To: Shane Meyers, Webmaster of JoinCalifornia.com For a friendship, a website, and a decade of trouble-shooting. Senator Robert D. Dutton, Senate Minority Leader Greg Maw, Senate Republican Policy Director For providing gainful employment that I enjoy. Gregory P. Schmidt, Secretary of the Senate Bernadette McNulty, Chief Assistant Secretary of the Senate Holly Hummelt , Senate Amending Clerk Zach Twilla, Senate Reading Clerk For an orderly house and the lists that made this book possible. E. Dotson Wilson, Assembly Chief Clerk Brian S. Ebbert, Assembly Assistant Chief Clerk Timothy Morland, Assembly Reading Clerk For excellent ideas, intriguing questions, and guidance. Jessica Billingsley, Senate Republican Floor Manager For extraordinary patience with research projects that never end. Richard Paul, Senate Republican Policy Consultant For hospitality and good friendship. Wade Teasdale, Senate Republican Policy Consultant For understanding the importance of Bradley and Dilworth. A Note from the Author An important thing to keep in mind as you read this book is that there is information missing. In the first two decades that California’s legislature existed, we had more individuals serve as legislators than we have in the last 90 years.1 Add to the massive turnover the fact that no official biographies were kept during this time and that the state capitol moved seven times during those twenty years, and you have a recipe for missing information. As an example, we only know the birthplace for about 63% of the legislators. In spite of my best efforts, there are still hundreds of legislators about whom we know almost nothing.
    [Show full text]
  • White House Staff Versus the Cabinet: Centripetal And
    Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics Author(s): Alexander Wendt Source: International Organization, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Spring, 1992), pp. 391-425 Published by: The MIT Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2706858 . Accessed: 15/10/2011 09:10 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. The MIT Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to International Organization. http://www.jstor.org White House StaffVersus the Cabinet: Centripetaland CentrifugalRoles JAMES P. PFIFFNER AssociateProfessor ofPolitical Science GeorgeMason University The firsttask of any new administrationmust be the organizationof the White House and the establishmentof the role the cabinetwill play.1If thesecentral issues are not settled,the Presidentwill have trouble pursuing any of his political or governmentalpriorities. And if thereare problemswithin or between these two centralinstitutions in an administration,much valuable time can be lost until the tensionsare settled. The early months of an administrationare particularlycrucial to a new presidentbecause theyprovide a narrowwindow of opportunityto accom- plish his goals. If thepresident does not designateearly who will be firstamong his White House staff,it is an invitationto struggle; for much is at stake.
    [Show full text]