AN AMERICAN FAILURE STORY:
Miller, William Lee
AN AGENDA FOR FORD THOMAS E. CRONIN On expecting instant...
...Politics is not just the art of the possible...
...Finally, stitution is usually more limited in its resources and its even if a President has adequate knowledge about what options than the general public assumes-or even than to do, nearly every action has unintended consequences most Presidents assume...
...Can we afford a weakened Presidency when there is so As we now know, a partyless Presidential administra- vast a national agenda that needs activist and creative tion is very likely an arbitrary regime-unresponsive and leadership...
...Let Us Reason Together" became a "we'll own problems...
...But the executive branch of the federal governwill be attacked effectively...
...Critics depict the Presidency as imperial, High on Ford's agenda should be a reappraisal of the isolated, arrogant-in short, an essential institution that Presidency as an institution...
...that is, few programs that can be cut bench and assumed the reigns of leadership...
...But any leveling off of a concerted effort by the Ford Administration to steer federal expenditures necessitates an intensive scrutiny of clear of election abuses, extortion of campaign contributhe nation's military and defense budget with a shrewd tions and other conflicts-of-interests...
...seems cruel to put a person in a position where it is We need campaign reforms that will provide strict nearly certain that he will fail, and then pillory him for limitations on campaign contributions and expenditures...
...The Executive Office should only contain salient against blue slate rocks central review staffs such as the Council of Economic my great-great grandfather Advisers, Office of Management and Budget and Nationwas said to love this place al Security Council...
...What can be done about the "swelling of the irresponsible...
...Neither Ford's already he seems to be in a no-win situation...
...our campaigns have to be financed, television and other Besides paring back military spending, fighting infla- incentives all move in the direction of stressing Hollytion will require tax reform, including reductions of per- wood-personality politics to the neglect of the issues that sonal taxes at the lower income levels where inflation need clarification, definition and programmatic response...
...Too many people infer from its (for example, the side effects of the interstate highway power to deploy nuclear weapons that it has similarly system or nuclear power plants...
...A strong Presidency, turned into a Presidency-by-secrecy, where "Being Presi- ideally, should be a lean and candid one...
...It should be dent means never having to say you're sorry-or wrong...
...In this way, the cabinet will be better used and less undermined...
...And tion, not an era of negotiations and detente...
...The lessons of the past extraordinary power in domestic and economic affairs...
...This will be a critical test for Ford...
...Large staffs Nixon's ambitious proclamations of an open Administra- create conflicts, alienate the cabinet, make line administion, and open Presidency and his promise to hold press trators more distant, and attract more duties to the conferences whenever they were needed...
...The new Presisial issues if we are to have any semblance of government dent has won our sympathy, support and prayers, and by the consent of the governed...
...But it is what the United States invariall levels of government...
...is seldom properly balanced by the inevitable braking To lead the nation requires considerably more than of the President-the myriad of brakes that prevent symbolic actions...
...To seek the latter is to Sunlight is obviously the best of disinfectants...
...pense of others, and Ford will win critics for whatever Economic controls, of course, can only work if they are strategies he adopts...
...The world has changed but the select outstanding candidates, and mobilize coalitions U.S...
...We ought to encourage multiple centers of Ford will also contribute to a strenthened and more shared leadership and public authority...
...But other...
...As the Nixon example evipaign...
...would meet occasionally with a score of Congressmen in The Presidency is, and should be, a highly political office public, before television, to answer tough questions and -that is, a President must listen, negotiate, bargain, review his own performance...
...As Clark how can we make our conventions, campaigns and elecClifford aptly states: "There exists a gap-an undeniable tions more open, rational and responsible...
...A swollen public-relations corps has do it my way" autocrat...
...Commonweal: 473 If Ford does not take initiatives in this area, he and the In part this is because the Presidency is a cruel job...
...A sprawling Executive Office bureaucracy, creward Congress was "we shall overwhelm...
...6 September 1974: 474 As a people we need to do our part to deglamourize your policy views to key executive branch posts is at the and demythologize the American Presidency...
...Agreement on what a problem is nearly sions, administrative follow-through, and much more...
...offering assurances of stability, of continuity of policies, The romantic aura of the making of the President and of an open Presidency is basically symbolic action...
...Nor will occasional jawboning with big busi- But will President Ford act as rigorously to inaugurate ness...
...We also desperately need to strengthen the political party committees at all levels of government...
...management, skilled legislative program formulation, Presidents often just lack the knowledge about what vigorous political coalition-building, keen personnel deci- should be done...
...Ford ought to give very serious consideration to Arthur The problems of the economy are acute, and are likely Burns' suggested public employment program...
...In his first few days Ford has pledged a con- matters need to be delegated to an enhanced cabinet, a ciliatory, open Presidency...
...He needs to reasssess how is fast becoming inconsistent with cherished democratic much can be administered at the White House, and what ideals...
...done to recruit the ablest people into political lifeGerald Ford is among the large number of people who elected and appointed...
...Administration that Justice, the IRS and the CIA are Nixon's efforts in this area were a disaster...
...But Presidential actions There is no single remedy for the state of the economy...
...And inventive and effective than a warmed-over Nixon ap- the American public will have to insist on the Ford proach to the problem of spiraling wages and prices...
...In recent years we have be- strengthening the hand of those already there who share come too executive-dependent, too dependent on the the policy views of the White House...
...I wonder if anyone remembers The power to recruit and appoint people who share the day he fell Commonweal: 475...
...couraged our Presidents to think themselves above con- What can be done about the state of the Presidency...
...His latest book (with Rexford G. Nearly everyone agrees that President Ford's number Tugwell) is The Presidency Reappraised (Praeger...
...Unfortunately, the national unifier...
...political honeymoon nor marriage will remain unruffled President Ford's address to Congress implied that he if and when he frontally tackles these tasks...
...As things stand now, it is as if we want to ignore any serious national health insurance measures will cost these two basic propositions...
...sulting with the rank and file and even larger than law...
...What about regularized press conferences...
...He seems especially concerned, and correctly so, the backward-looking attitudes of the Cold War...
...one problem, indeed the number one problem throughout 6 September 1974: 472 the world, is double-digit inflation...
...A determined and effective Ford could Presidency"-that large bureaucratization in and around help usher in the day when elections could be our finest the White House accompanied, seemingly, by an arrohour-not a national embarrassment...
...defense establishment and defense budget have not...
...Mindless bipartisanship has been one of the worst obstacles to open politics and Along the river tin roofs creative debate in the past two decades -and perhaps the color of blood too the chief cause of the imperial Presidency...
...always is easier to come by than agreement about what The immediate agenda for Ford consists of focusing is to be done, how it should be done and who is to pay these leadership skills on several critical problems facing for it...
...Perhaps there exists some yearning of the human dences, battles with the federal bureaucrats rarely heart to return to royalty...
...yet, as priority setter, budget cutter however much Watergate genuinely upset the nation's and party leader, he must also act as national divider...
...It presently nurture and elect our political elites...
...Cutting back on federal expenditures makes sense campaign practices reforms...
...ity to lead will be tested in this area as in no others...
...Ford, like those who have gone before him, will are these people afraid that basic reforms would threaten of course struggle courageously with these dilemmas...
...But extravagant and wasteful living practices...
...What can be $85 billion to well over $100 billion in fiscal 1980...
...But we rejected monarchy achieve anything...
...little help...
...He calls for the pas- understE.nd fully the magnitude of our long-term energy sage of a compromised national health insurance pro- crisis and the magnitude of the critical world food shortgram...
...crush it or make it imperial...
...many staffs and councils there I can see current could easily be placed beneath the appropriate cabinet making herringbones officers...
...He says that he wants to achieve budget force us to reappraise our insatiable quest for exorbitant, cuts that will be equitable and fair to everyone...
...around what needs to be done...
...Indeed, that such pledges are necessary at all will have enormous undesirable consequences, inflicting highlights our sad state of affairs...
...Politics should not stop at the water's edge, nor PARKERSBURG, W. VA...
...alone will not be enough...
...release little rivulets Ford would do well too to pare back the public rela- of greasy smoke tions staffs at the White House...
...By itself, the kept out of politics, are restrained from political trials, resurrection of the Cost of Living Council will be of and invasions of personal privacy...
...But of course he knows, everyone knows, that ages...
...It would help also if he move the President from politics do us a great injustice...
...suggest that our solutions are likely to become our chilToo many people infer from its administrative manpower dren's problems...
...that is, he must negotiate he will need them all...
...We, of course, want pur- denigrated not only the Presidency but the entire demoposive leadership, we want a president who can set our cratic process...
...AN AGENDA FOR FORD THOMAS E. CRONIN On expecting instant results from an instant President Changing Presidents heightens American hopes, ex- of more than 5 million and from its $305 billion budget pectations and demands, but hardly ensures that our that it should be able to organize solutions to any probmajor national problems are resolved or even that they lem...
...Administrative and operations staffs I toss someone's whiskey bottle should be in departments or agencies...
...Hence, whatever Ford wants Ford has signaled several constructive changes in tone to achieve will have to cost very little or will require and manner-and who is not grateful for these...
...But quite apart from these obstacles, which perhaps should mitigate some of our unrealistic expectations, there are key substantive issues that must THOMAS E. CRONIN, a former White House Fellow, is currently be high on Ford's agenda...
...wants to continue a non-partisan program of encourag- Mindful of the Watergate scandals there likely will be ing growth in defense spending...
...The Executive Office longjohns hang in the...
...President back much or redeployed...
...Our political parties even more economic hardships upon the lower and are dying, the American public is outraged at the way lower-middle classes, the elderly and the needy...
...Freedom of information is critical...
...What about the cabithis institution is coming under the sharpest criticism of net...
...Invariably, Presidential deci- form of economic controls, even though this will have to sion-making will advantage certain interests at the ex- be impo.;ed over the opposition of big business and labor...
...Most economists, ing the nation...
...Congress needs to move to Ford will also have to come up with something far more establish proper oversight activities in this area...
...To be sure, everyone applauds the vigor- moreover, agree that the modern budget has very few ous manner in which Gerald R. Ford has come off the controllable items...
...Do we about the importance of ensuring personal privacy...
...gance or hubris which holds that what is good for the Ford assumes the office of President at a time when President is good for the nation...
...Ford a promise spreads, a shatter should also see to it that the appointment prerogative is of stars no one notices better used than it has been under recent Presidents...
...The act of changing the ment is a many-splintered thing...
...Political parties are needed to ably does to its Presidents, with little understanding, pity check the increasing cults of personality that have en- or tolerance...
...Central Intelligence Agency...
...President...
...We need vastly tougher full disclosure laws enforced by an independent Federal Elections Commission...
...How can we rebuild political claim that our most important problems today are in- parties that can win respect, debate national priorities, ternal-domestic ones...
...gap-between a foreign policy that purports to deal with President Ford is well aware of most of these proba world of detente, and a defense policy that is mired in lems...
...Ford and his new lieutenants will 200 years ago and there is no reason to revert to it accomplish far more if they learn to work cooperatively today...
...His too, soon White House than necessary...
...They could be cut in half and everyone would benefit...
...in a democracy we are limited in implementing decisions We should be cautious about expecting instant results in that we must do it by democratic procedures-and this from our instant President...
...Surehave to wait until we really have a $100 billion Pen- ly, then, he will seek to initiate measures that will pretagon budget before our President and the Congress take vent the mindless politicization we have experienced a serious look at where we are going, what we are paying within the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the for...
...Manipulation of the Again and again we need to recognize the political news and reliance on the convenience of secrecy have character of the Presidency...
...Too, attention...
...One of our greatest challenges is the capacity to with the permanent government, listening to them, findfashion a system of collective leadership, responsive and ing out what incentives shape their performance and responsible to -the people...
...The Presidency as an in- almost ensures a certain amount of inefficiency...
...President same time the most important yet the most underrated Ford seems, initially, to be a willing partner in this cam- power a President possesses...
...But and destabilize those who now benefit from the way we rarely have Presidents succeeded in resolving them...
...The 1972 election demonstrated a personal and private politics by both major candidates-unaccountable to parties, largely uninformed by party leadership and certainly independent of the checks and balances our parties can, if properly organized, provide...
...Ours is also a deficit person at the top is considerably different from govern- budget and has been for several years...
...wind of the President, now containing nearly 4,000 aides, like loose-jointed ghosts could also be cut back...
...Gerald Ford's capac- hits hardest and extensive elimination of tax loopholes...
...Recent Presidents have abused and misused the open Presidencies-and others before him were long- officers of the permanent departments, and antagonism time products of the logrolling, bargaining, compromis- between the White House and departments has seriously ing Congressional culture...
...at the Pentagon's doorstep...
...The President should also compromise, and work very directly in the thicket of the experiment with televised meetings of occasional forums political arena...
...a democracy has to act politically in regard to controver- The Ford agenda is long and exciting...
...accessible to Congress and the cabinet and should speak President Ford will inevitably find it is far more diffi- -or be listened to-as something more than just a cult to sustain an open Presidency than to pledge to one...
...shrewd public-relations agency...
...Presidential leadership can several billions...
...And who can forget President actually diminished Presidential credibility...
...We simultaneously demand a President to be the underworld of American politics...
...Ford wanting to increase domestic spending and those who also hay an obligation to get the American people to want to cut federal expenditures...
...I wanna be a good Presi- better used Vice Presidency or to other federal departdent" he told us...
...It calls for tough priority setting, crisis Presidents from acting swiftly, efficiently or effectively...
...Consen- ated because Presidents need help and protection, has its sus and Mr...
...But others before him also promised ments...
...Lyndon Johnson was also of impaired the creative implimentation of Presidential prothe Congress, but it was not long before his motto to- grams...
...What we increase the defense budget from its current levels of must be done to ensure honest elections...
...How can we free our Our military budgets are geared to an era of confronta- candidates from cruel dependency upon the fatcats...
...And as we now know, it also helps -but we should not look to the Presidency for social, Presidents conceal mistakes and scandals...
...a scholar-in-residence at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies, Aspen, Colorado...
...stylistic or religious leadership...
...sense of justice and morality, we very much want to get Instinctive democratic leadership and dynamic executive on with other matters and leave Watergate behind...
...Too many tasks democratic Presidency if he dispels the habits of secrecy and expectations visited upon the Presidency will either that have endlessly surrounded the recent Presidency...
...not a sufficient response to the variety of scandals we Maintaining current defense policies will require that now (inadequately) term Watergate problems...
...Ford elevate the Presidency above politics, and those who should meet the press regularly and perhaps for longer yearn to take the politics out of the Presidency or re- more freewheeling periods...
...of representative citizens...
...who can put questions to him It is, in the case of Presidential leadership, the art of directly-again in an effort to remove the temptations of making the difficult and desirable possible...
...Pledges that his Adminisin a few areas, but the most likely cuts-those in edu- tration will not tap, bug or break and enter are not very cation, housing, manpower and anti-poverty programs- reassuring...
...How can he simultaneously please administered by those who believe them, a condition that organized business and labor...
...How can he please those was grievously absent in the Nixon control venture...
...and mediate between groups, compromise differences, and find acceptable alternatives...
...Fighting to undermine his initial claims that he wants to be inflation doubtlessly will also require a return to some President of all the people...
...Then there is always the problem of organizing the nation-each of which is crying out for leadership political coalitions to get what is desirable done...
...A President in isolation and secrecy...
...and even there are many people who urge us to forget Watergate, then, the one set of qualifications can easily destroy the to be satisfied that we have a new team at the top...
...As a nation, we must 00900000000000 mature to the recognition that the President has to be political and he ought to be a vigorous partisan leader DAVE SMITH as well...
...We must seriously consider channeling public funds and certain allotments of free television time through our party committees and councils at not succeeding...
...Still, tax reform or tax increases...
...And talents are seldom joined in any one person...
...the century...
...nation will surely have misread the lesson of Watergate Unrealistic expectations constantly pound down upon its and we will have turned our backs upon the realities of ocupant...
...But surely this is eye on where at least seven to ten billion might be cut...
...At best, secrecy insulates, and makes the sights high and liberate our best talents for societal tasks President remote...
Vol. 100 • September 1974 • No. 20
