Confrontation and Compromise: Presidential and Congressional Leadership, 2001-2006

The authors examine the relationship between President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress to explore political leadership in American politics. Six case studies make clear that individual leaders in both the Congress and the administration provide the direction, coherence, and energy that leadership requires. Two case studies concentrate on solutions devised to resolve long-standing policy issues that had been the center of controversy even before Bush's election: education reform and campaign finance reform. Two cases focus on issues that arose in the aftermath of 9/11: intelligence reform and creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Two are drawn from Bush's second term: the response to Hurricane Katrina and the failed effort to reform Social Security. The authors draw several general conclusions. Direction, coherence and energy are provided by multiple national leaders, not just by the president. Like other presidents, Bush sought to dominate national policy-making but ultimately found it necessary to effect tactical and policy reversals, actions inconsistent with his image as an uncompromising man of principle. Legislative success often depended on the skills of Bush's allies and particularly on the efforts of bipartisan and sometimes bicameral "tandems" who forged compromises across party and institutional lines that made progress possible.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 The Search for Leadership Chapter 2 The Institutional Balance in 2001 Part 3 No Child Left Behind Chapter 4 Background: Previous Education Reform Efforts Chapter 5 Bush's Early Proposal–Taking the Initiative Chapter 6 The Early Legislative Process Chapter 7 Passage on the House and Senate Floor Chapter 8 Themes of Individual Leadership on Eucation Reform Part 9 Intelligence Redesign and Reform Chapter 10 Background: The September 11th Terrorist Attacks Chapter 11 Early Efforts to Launch a 9/11 Inquiry Chapter 12 Establishing the 9/11 Commission Chapter 13 The Commission's Final Report Chapter 14 Pre-Election Efforts to Act on the COmmission's Report Chapter 15 Post-Election Efforts to Act on the Commission's Report Chapter 16 Themes of Individual Leadership on Intelligence Reform Part 17 Campaign Finance Reform Chapter 18 Background: Previous Campaign Finance Reform Efforts Chapter 19 The 1996 Presidential Election Chapter 20 The Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act: 1997-2000 Chapter 21 BCRA, President Bush and Enron: Changing the Political Dynamic Chapter 22 Themes of Individual Leadership Part 23 Creating the Department of Homeland Security Chapter 24 Background: The Homeland Security Network Chapter 25 The September 11th Terrorist Attacks Chapter 26 The Debate Over Department Status Chapter 27 House Passage Chapter 28 Senate Passage Chapter 29 Final Passage Chapter 30 Themes of Individual Leadership on Homland Security Part 31 Hurricane Katrina Chapter 32 Background: The Emergency Management System Chapter 33 Preparing for and Responding to Hurricane Katrina Chapter 34 Themes of Individual Leadership on Katrina Part 35 Social Security Reform and Leadership in American Government Chapter 36 Background: Program Design and Early Reform Effirts Chapter 37 Social Security: FDR through Regan Chapter 38 President Bush Enters the Fray Chapter 39 Action in Congress Chapter 40 Individual Leadership on Social Security Reform Chapter 41 Origins of Leadership: Evidence from Six Cases Chapter 42 Leadership Themes Chapter 43 Leadership in American National Government

About the Author :
Jason D. Mycoff is assistant professor at the University of Delaware, teaches courses on American politics and research methods. His research focuses on congressional committees in the lawmaking process and institutional relationships between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Joseph A. Pika is professor at the University of Delaware, teaches American politics with a research specialization in the presidency. Pika is co-author (with John Maltese) of The Politics of the Presidency and The Presidential Contest. In addition to his academic career, Pika has served on numerous state committees and task forces including eight years on the Delaware State Board of Education, four as president of the Board.

Review :
Through their detailed examinations of the most important recent Washington battles, Mycoff and Pika illuminate how individual leadership and institutional frameworks shaped a critical set of political decisions. Students and instructors will appreciate the engaging case studies as well as the accessible, original synthesis of contemporary policy making. Mycoff and Pika have captured the nuts and bolts of Beltway decision-making. An informative read for undergraduates interested in policymaking and politics. These case studies are...quite useful as a supplement to texts that focus on one institution or the other, and might also be considered for use in courses on national policy making. The authors' attempt to explain leadership patterns and strategies that go beyond party leadership is very useful and might serve as the foundation of a research agenda that could produce a valuable scholarly contribution as well as a pedagogical tool. Mycoff and Pika produce a thoughtful examination of contemporary presidential-congressional relations through the lens of leadership theory....The book is a useful contribution to the leadership study literature. Recommended. Confrontation and Compromise shows what it is like to make law on difficult issues in a period of crisis politics and narrow party margins. The cases are well chosen; the lessons clearly set forth. It is text for our time.