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Download Presidential Performance Report Card - Sarah Dusza
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Report Card for President: Nixon or Carter Chief Legislator What does this mean? Grade The President is a key figure head in enforcing and passing legislation Evidence for Grade: -Passed a lot of legislation about Drug Abuse and Crime but most of this was unsuccessful -favored confrontation rather than compromise -supported expanding the power of executive branch -government was divided -passed Social Security and Medicare -The Civil Rights movement also prompted desegregation in public schools during his office Chief Executive What does this mean? Grade Evidence for Grade: -presidency style kept to his own, private council -changed nearly all of the cabinet positions -New Federalism -Gave women administrative positions -not on good terms with Congress (democratic majority) - White House staff: hierarchal -Attorney General Richard & Deputy Attorney General Ruckelshaus resigned Commander-in-Chief What does this mean? The president is at the top of the military and all orders are either passed down from or approved by him before they are executed Grade Evidence for Grade: -Tried to end Vietnam War on good terms -Bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail and a worldwide nuclear alert -Largest antiwar protests in US. history after invasion of Cambodia -strategy of Vietnamization (failed) -Nixon Doctrine -Slow withdrawal of troops from Vietnam (finish by 1971) -Paris Peace Accords signed Jan. 23, 1973 Justification: Nixon was focused more on the power of the presidency than in the needs of the people, which was demonstrated by his refusal to withdraw American troops from Vietnam despite sweeping protests. He also tried to make proposals for improvements like GOP, but was successful. Justification: Despite striving for a new federalism, Nixon did not trust many people and removed many cabinet members and did not maintain a good relationship with the Senate. He should have been more open to compromise and appeasing the Democratic majority in Congress. Justification: Nixon did not pull US ground forces out of Vietnam until 1973, which demonstrates the ultimate failure of Vietnamization because South Vietnam collapsed after the US withdrew. Therefore, the US lost thousands of lives in a vastly unpopular foreign war and also suffered defeat. Guardian of the Economy Grade What does this mean? The president will be blamed or praised for the economic prosperity of the time because of the way he handles foreign affairs (i.e.: energy crisis because of Middle Eastern tension) Evidence for Grade: -August 1968: 3.5% unemployment - inflation rates: 1965: 1.59% 1970: 5.84% -1970 recession hurt republicans in Congressional Election -Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 -1972:+2.8 million jobs - Keynesian economic policy -Aug. 1974: Nixon's term ends but inflation rises to 11.03% Head of the Party What does this mean? The president is the face of his party and embodies his party's beliefs in office Evidence and Justification: Grade Nixon's economic policies brought the US out of a recession and decreased unemployment rates, but his policies were relatively short-lived as inflation jumped up again after his term ended. Therefore, he managed the economy fairly well while in office but offered no long-term solution or policies to suppress inflation. Head of State What does this mean? The president has a responsibility to communicate and answer to the the people Grade Evidence and Justification: -"Checkers Speech" created a larger coalition for the Republican Party -Appealed to the people as a "figure of stability" -Promised the public more racial desegregation -During 1970 elections, Nixon lost 12 House seats but gained 2 Senate seats Chief Diplomat What does this mean? The president is the largest, most influential diplomat the US can send to other nations to negotiate on our behalf Evidence and Justification: Justification: Grade -Improved relations with China: recognized as the People's Republic of China, Feb. 1972 Nixon was the first president to visit Beijing -improved relationship with the Soviet Union: visited Moscow in May 1972, signed many agreements easing the Cold War tensions -attempted to use China, the Soviet Union, and North Vietnam against each other to pressure them into negotiations Nixon had generally low public approval ratings during his term and the Watergate Scandal caused many issues between the people and the government Americans lost trust and confidence in the government. The "Checkers Speech" was also only relatively successful in connecting with the people as well because there were still rumors circulating about his party donations. Nixon is also the only president in American history to have resigned from presidency to avoid impeachment. Grade Other criteria: _______________________________________ What does this mean? Influential character traits that become a president Evidence and Justification: Nixon was well educated at Whitter College and Duke University and had a reputation for patience in politics, which is demonstrated by his decision to run again for election after losing to Kennedy in his first presidential campaign. Therefore, Nixon's determination and patience are desirable traits for a president. However, his poor decision making skills and paranoia about the Democratic party also led to his humiliating involvement in the Watergate scandal, so his poor decision-making skills overshadow his other desirable character traits. Questions to Consider and Answer When Evaluating Your President Chief Legislator What was the perceived image of the President in the eyes of Congress? Vice versa? What was the President’s legislative agenda? How did he present this or pursue its achievement? Did the President serve during a period of divided government? How much gridlock was encountered during his term(s)? o If there was divided government, how well did the President pursue a sense of bipartisanship? What major pieces of legislation were signed during his term(s)? How much did the President wield his veto power? Guardian of the Economy What were the economic indicators like during his presidency? (trade, unemployment, inflation, etc.) What type of economic policy did the President subscribe to? (Keynesian, Reaganomics, etc.) o Fiscal, monetary, tax policies? Was any major economic reform legislation passed during his term(s)? Any recessions or depressions? Sustained growth? Did the President sustain the social contract and expand the economic opportunities available to all Americans? Did the President improve the economic infrastructure of the country? Did the President improve the performance of the economy during his time in office? Chief Diplomat Did the President make any famous trips abroad or did he welcome any famous visitors? Did the President lead or participate in any major negotiations? How was the United States perceived abroad? Any major treaties signed? Did Congress sign these? Did the President create a doctrine regarding foreign affairs? What were the foreign policy goals of the president? o What was the foreign policy ideology of the President? Commander-in-Chief Did the President initiate or end the use of force anywhere? o Why did the President use force? Were the circumstances justified? o How successful was the use of force if it was used? Did the President lead a major reorganization of the military? Budget priorities? Did the President work well with the military? Did the President have a military doctrine? Head of State What was the President’s speaking style? How well did the President meet the needs of the people (especially in times of crisis)? What image did the public hold of the President? How well did the President maintain his public opinion numbers? Did the President deliver any famous speeches? What made these famous? What was their context? How much did the President speak to the public or the press? Was it too little or too often? Chief of Party How many appearances did the President make on behalf of his party? How well did the party perform during elections? Did the party lose or gain congressional seats? o Did the President reflect the ideology and positions of the party? o Did the President ignore the policy positions of the party? What was the Party’s response if so? Did the President lead an ideological restructuring of the party? Did the President build a larger coalition, or voting base, for the party? Was his election part of an electoral realignment? Chief Executive What type of leadership style did the President run in the White House? Did the President seek to expand or decrease the size of government? Were these changes good ideas or simply political moves? What was the overall impression of the President’s Cabinet? Were the appointments good choices? How well did the President work with the Senate in moving his appointees through the nomination process? How often did the President have to replace members of his staff or Cabinet? Other Questions to Consider Was the President qualified to take office? What were his qualifications? Prior resume? What influenced the President? Did the President continue to lead and seek a positive impact after the Presidency? Did the President display exemplary personal character? Did the President have any embarrassing scandals? Was the President able to articulate a vision for the country? Or, did the President seek to simply maintain the status quo? How did the President embody the characteristics of a “modern president?” Did the President fail to utilize the power of the office? Or, did the President abuse the power of the office?
