Why Presidents Fail And How They Can Succeed Again

207 Pages·2016·2.59 MB·English

by  Elaine C. Kamarck

K
a ElainE C. KamarCK
Failure should not be an option for the presidency, m F
a
but for too long it has been the norm.
r
C
K
“It’s amazing how much we talk about politicians and how little we talk
rom the botched attempt to rescue the U.S.
about what politicians actually do. Politicians govern. Elaine Kamarck has
diplomats held hostage by Iran in 1980 under
rectified that brilliantly in Why Presidents Fail, showing that an inability to
President Jimmy Carter and the missed
govern effectively is at the heart of recent presidential failures. This is crucial
intelligence on Al Qaeda before 9/11 under
information, compellingly told.”
George W. Bush to, most recently, the com-
—Joe Klein, columnist, Time Magazine
puter meltdown that marked the arrival of health
care reform under Barack Obama, the American
“Elaine Kamarck’s book is a must-read for all presidential candidates,
presidency has often been a profile in failure. In
correspondents, students of government, and citizens who hunger for
Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed
Washington to function well again. There’s a stick of dynamite in every chapter.”
Again, Elaine Kamarck surveys presidential fail-
—Donna Brazile, commentator, Cnn
ures to understand why Americans have lost faith
elaine C. KaMarCK is a senior fellow in the in their leaders—and how they can get it back.
“Why have so many modern presidencies begun in hope and ended in
Governance Studies program at Brookings and
disappointment? In this concise and trenchant book, Elaine Kamarck offers
the founding director of the Center for Effective Kamarck, a White House insider and Harvard
a convincing answer: Too many presidents have neglected a vital part of their
Public Management. She is also on the faculty of job, managing the federal government. Kamarck’s compelling case studies of academic, argues that presidents today spend too
the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and political disasters are page-turners—a label few books on public administration much time talking and not enough time governing.
a
has worked in several American presidential cam- ever get. Every American should read this book before voting. Would-be n They have not balanced three components of lead-
d
paigns. Her other books include Primary Politics, White House aides should read it more than once.” H ership that must be exercised to bring about good
o
2nd ed. (Brookings, 2015). —Doyle McManus, Washington columnist, Los Angeles Times w results: policy, communication, and implementa-
T
h tion. Instead, presidents have allowed themselves
e
“In this magnificent and timely book, Elaine Kamarck unlocks vital truths y to become more and more distant from the federal
C
about why modern presidents so often fail—and what they must do to succeed. a bureaucracy that is supposed to implement
n
Writing as both a superb scholar and a seasoned White House adviser, her S policy. After decades of “imperial” and “rhetori-
case-based analyses of several recent presidencies leave none of conventional uc cal” presidencies, we are in need of a “manage-
academic wisdom unchallenged. This wise book will be read by scholars and c and How They Can
e rial” president. Kamarck explains the difficulties
e
students for generations to come—and it ought to be read by the president,
top White House aides, and cabinet leaders right now!” d a Succeed again of governing in our modern political landscape,
g and offers examples and recommendations of how
a
—John J. DIiulio Jr., Frederic Fox leadership Professor, University of Pennsylvania in our next presidents can not only recreate faith in
leadership but also run a competent, successful
administration.
BrooKings institution Press
Cover image: P Wei/iStock Washington, D.C.
Cover design by Beth Schlenoff www.brookings.edu/press
Final Kamarck jacket.indd 1 5/2/16 4:41 PM

WHY PRESIDENTS FAIL
Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 1 5/3/16 11:29 AM
Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 2 5/3/16 11:29 AM
WHY PRESIDENTS FAIL
And How They Can Succeed Again
ELAINE C. KAMARCK
brookings institution press
Washington, D.C.
Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 3 5/3/16 11:29 AM
Copyright © 2016 Elaine C. Kamarck
the brookings institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036
www.brookings.edu
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in
writing from the Brookings Institution Press.
The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization de-
voted to research, education, and publication on important issues
of domestic and foreign policy. Its principal purpose is to bring the
highest quality independent research and analysis to bear on cur-
rent and emerging policy problems. Interpretations or conclusions
in Brookings publications should be understood to be solely those
of the authors.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication data are available.
ISBN 978- 0- 8157- 2778- 1 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN 978- 0- 8157- 2779- 8 (ebook)
ISBN 978- 0- 8157- 2780- 4 (pdf)
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Typeset in Sabon MT
Composition by Elliott Beard
Kamarck_Why Presidents Fail_i-xvi_1-189.indd 4 5/3/16 11:51 AM
To Abe, Ben, and Chloe
and the families they have built
Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 5 5/3/16 11:29 AM
Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 6 5/3/16 11:29 AM
Contents
PREFACE
The Crisis of Competence in the American Presidency
ix
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction: Presidential Failure
1
CHAPTER TWO
Helicopters in the Desert
17
CHAPTER THREE
Ignoring the Flashing Lights
35
Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 7 5/3/16 11:29 AM
viii Contents
CHAPTER FOUR
We Look Like a Third World Country
71
CHAPTER FIVE
Space Walks and Crashing Websites
91
CHAPTER SIX
The Buck Doesn’t Stop Here after All
111
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Voter’s Guide to Picking Presidents
137
Notes
155
Index
171
Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 8 5/3/16 11:29 AM