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L ord B ryce's Curse: The Costs of Presidential Heroism and the Hope of Deliberative Incrementalism
Author(s) -
Jacobs Lawrence R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
presidential studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.337
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 1741-5705
pISSN - 0360-4918
DOI - 10.1111/psq.12064
Subject(s) - presidential system , incrementalism , opposition (politics) , greatness , presidential election , politics , political science , referendum , public administration , victory , political economy , law and economics , law , sociology , art , literature
Presidents yearn for greatness to cement their “standing in history.” But their efforts are vulnerable to constitutional and political constraints. The gap between presidential hope and the limits on their power is vividly displayed by their record of “going public.” This article illustrates the costs of presidential promotions through a case study of P resident B arack O bama's public campaign on behalf of health reform, which provoked countermobilization, encouraged media coverage of the opposition, and widened the public's exposure to potent messages that undercut W hite H ouse communications. The article concludes by suggesting partial steps to moderate expectations and work within institutional boundaries.