Power To Persuade
Daphne Smith Erixson POLS 1101 April 19, 2004 Power To Persuade Richard Neustandt’s “power of the presidency is the power to persuade” excerpt appears to be quite a valid description when analyzing the topic of modern presidency. ... By sharing power with two other branches, the president is forced to negotiate with both, thus proving Neustandt’s depiction. ... His role is to negotiate with other nations to construct treaties, has the power to make war, deploy military defense, to recognize and receive foreign governments, and to appoint ambassadors and other public ministers, while Senate confirms”(“Great Decisions”). ... It is apparent that this system stays operative and that the President relies upon the approval of other branches: in negotiating treaties, the President must have Senate approval; in order to make war, the President must retain Congress’s authority to declare war; and to appoint power, the President must have approval of Senate. These are as defined as informal powers or powers to persuade others to follow his lead (“Tools of Power”). ... In one of Richard Neustadt’s paragraphs about the president’s persuasion, he states, “persuasive power, thus defined, amounts to more than charm or reasoned argument. ... Because Congress holds all these legislative powers, the president must either command or persuade to Congress by using his powers in order to receive any desired results. For the President it may seem like using force through elected powers might bring immediate effects to his wishes; however, it appears that using the power to “bargain” often brings more positive results. As Richard expressed in Presidential Power and the Modern President, “Command has limited utility; persuasion becomes give-and-take. ... Winslow’s article acknowledged that President Clinton used his bargaining tactics by using aide from religious friends to persuade Congress to increase minimum wage bill $1 to $6. ... By using the power of negotiation, presidents in the past have managed to transform presidency, itself, expanding its powers. ... He claimed unspecified presidential authorities for executive power, and put use to every power.