WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THE PRESIDENT?

The Cabinet and EXOP

Cabinet

Cabinet tends to be used to ensure that the work of the executive branch is directed and drawn together

Membership includes...........It generally plays only a limited role – it meets

infrequently and President may overrule it Cabinet members may not have a close

relationship with the PresidentUnlike British PM not totally reliant on their

support

EXOP

Consists of personal aides/different components NSC, OMB and WHO

NS adviser used in different ways – Kissinger spearheaded foreign policy initiatives with China during Nixon; Clinton’s advisers eclipsed by secs of state – Christopher and Albright

Can play a more significant role – why?‘staffers’ in EXOP more likely to be long term

associatesCabinet members torn between their loyalty to the

President, departments and interest groupsCloser proximity

Evaluation points

Presidents have used EOP and Cabinet in different ways – Nixon overdependent on his closest aides – Watergate affair

Significance of Cabinet depends upon individual style of Presidents – Eisenhower collective decision making

Reagan used Cabinet councils – 6-11 cabinet members to advise & develop policy

Evaluation points

Some Cabinet members have played an important role in shaping policy eg. James Baker Secretary of State 1989-93 close relationship with Bush snr; Rice and Rumsfeld. Importance of bilateral meetings

President is the sole source of political authority and Cabinet has no formal role. Use of it is at the President’s discretion

Rallying and mobilising support for particular policies

Evaluation points

David Mervin ‘ Presidents have the gravest difficulties as it is gaining control of a notoriously fractious political system, without the expertise and assistance of the EXOP they would helpless and the US would be truly ungovernable’.