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“Three Crises of Character in the
Modern Presidency”
James Pfiffner
Three Presidential Crises
Three Presidential Crises
Pfiffner looks at three contemporary presidential crises in order to examine:
1) Why It Happened: Presidential Motive:
2) What Happened
3) The Consequences: for both the president involved, and the country’s
system of constitutional government.
Three Presidential Crises
Three Presidential Crises
The presidential crises he looks at are:
1) Richard Nixon: Watergate (1970s)
2) Ronald Reagan: Iran-Contra (1980s)
3) Bill Clinton: Impeachment (1990s)
Three Presidential Crises
Richard Nixon: Watergate
Motives: Fear of the Enemies, Need for Secrecy
Nixon was resentful of the political establishment, and personally
paranoid, in the sense that he “attributed to his ‘enemies’ powers
greater than they had.”
What Happened?
After Daniel Ellsberg leaked the “Pentagon Papers,” Nixon and his top
aides established an intelligence unit (The Plumbers) within the White
House to prevent any further leaks.
Three Presidential Crises
Richard Nixon: Watergate
Nixon’s Dirty Tricks Operations
1) Activities of the Plumbers: Gather information on Nixon opponents
(Senator Muskie), bug offices (DNC).
2) Used IRS to Audit Democrats
3) Drafted an “Enemies List”
Three Presidential Crises
Richard Nixon: Watergate
Watergate Break-In
The Plumbers were caught trying to break into the DNC headquarters in
the Watergate Hotel.
Nixon’s Reaction:
From the moment news broke of the Plumbers’ arrest, Nixon attempted
to cover up his involvement, and sought to impend the resulting
Congressional investigation.
Three Presidential Crises
Richard Nixon: Watergate
Consequences: Impeachment
Once Nixon’s complicity was established, Congress voted for Articles of
Impeachment.
Articles of Impeachment:
Article I: Failure to Fulfill Oath of Office
Article II: Failure to Faithfully Execute the Law
Article III: Refusal to Honor Congressional Subpoenas
Three Presidential Crises
Reagan: Iran-Contra
Motives: Ideology, and Delegated Authority
Reagan was committed to a particular ideology, specifically
conservative Republicanism, supply side economics, and anticommunism. In the process, he often let sympathetic aides carry out
policies in the name of such ideals without much scrutiny.
Three Presidential Crises
Reagan: Iran-Contra
What Happened: Iranian Arms Trade
After Terrorists believed to be linked to Iran kidnapped several
Americans in Lebanon, officials in the Reagan White House decided to
approach Iran about an offer of arms for hostages.
What Happened: Contra Funding
The money made on the sale of arms to Iranian would then be
diverted to the Contra insurgency in Nicaragua, whom Reagan was
politically committed to supporting in their fight against the leftwing
Sandinista government.
Three Presidential Crises
Reagan: Iran-Contra
Ideology as Policy
Reagan was personally concerned about the fate of the hostage, yet
publically opposed negotiating with terrorists or their state sponsors.
At the same, he was politically committed to supporting the Contras in
their fight against the leftwing Sandinista government.
Delegated Authority
White House Officials acted on Reagan’s concerns, but did so without
regard for the law, or the political fallout.
Three Presidential Crises
Iran-Contra
Consequences
Both the sale of arms to Iran and the transfer of money to the Contras
violated existing laws.
Reagan’s Reaction
He denied any awareness of these programs, and in the process
appeared to much of the public as either untrustworthy or incompetent.
He salvaged his presidency by cooperating with the Congressional
investigation.
Three Presidential Crises
Clinton Impeachment
Motives: Self-Indulgence, Failure to Assume Blame
Clinton identified as a victim, and routinely blamed others for his
failings.
What Happened: Lewinsky Affair
During a deposition hearing for an unrelated sexual harassment suit
(Paula Jones), Clinton denied having a sexual relationship with Monica
Lewinsky.
Three Presidential Crises
Clinton Impeachment
What Happened: Lewinsky Affair
Sensing he may have caught Clinton in a lie, the Special
Prosecutor, Ken Starr investigated the Lewinsky relationship.
Clinton’s Reaction
Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Clinton continued to deny
the relationship. Only after the threat of a subpoena did he admit to
the affair.
Three Presidential Crises
Clinton Impeachment
Consequences: Starr Report
When Starr submitted his Report to Congress, Congress
voted for impeachment.
Charges Against Clinton
1) Lied Under Oath
2) Urged Others to Lie
3) Obstructed Justice, Sought to Hide Evidence