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THE WHITE HOUSE LEGISLATIVE LIAISON OFFICE: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOREIGN POLICY INTER‐BRANCH COLLABORATION IN THE POST‐COLD WAR ERA
Author(s) -
Eksterowicz Anthony J.,
Hastedt Glenn P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
southeastern political review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 0730-2177
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.1997.tb00784.x
Subject(s) - legislature , cold war , institutionalisation , white (mutation) , foreign policy , white paper , political science , executive branch , public administration , house of representatives , administration (probate law) , law , politics , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
This article argues that while it is true that presidents can and will attempt to dominate Congress in the making of foreign policy, the nature of the post‐Cold War new policy environment makes it less likely that they will succeed on a sustained basis. There is a need to revisit the mechanics of executive/legislative liaisons in this new era. What is most urgently needed is the institutionalization of “…the practice of early and genuine consultation with congressional leaders.” A potential vehicle for realizing this goal currently exists. It is the White House Congressional Liaison Office. We begin by surveying the relationship between the president and Congress during the Cold War and then we review the history of the White House Congressional Liaison Office. We then turn to more in‐depth examinations of recent presidencies and conclude with a series of recommendations for a new model of executive/legislative relations.