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Who Leads Whom? Presidents, Policy, and the Public

Online ISBN:
9780226092492
Print ISBN:
9780226092805
Publisher:
University of Chicago Press
Book

Who Leads Whom? Presidents, Policy, and the Public

Brandice Canes-Wrone
Brandice Canes-Wrone
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Published online:
21 March 2013
Published in print:
15 December 2005
Online ISBN:
9780226092492
Print ISBN:
9780226092805
Publisher:
University of Chicago Press

Abstract

This title is an ambitious study that addresses some of the most important questions in contemporary American politics: Do presidents pander to public opinion by backing popular policy measures that they believe would actually harm the country? Why do presidents “go public” with policy appeals? And do those appeals affect legislative outcomes? Analyzing the actions of modern presidents ranging from Eisenhower to Clinton, the book demonstrates that presidents' involvement of the mass public, by putting pressure on Congress, shifts policy in the direction of majority opinion. More importantly, it also shows that presidents rarely cater to the mass citizenry unless they already agree with the public's preferred course of action. With contemporary politics so connected to the pulse of the American people, this book offers much-needed insight into how public opinion actually works in our democratic process.

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