K a ElainE C. KamarCK Failure should not be an option for the presidency, m F a but for too long it has been the norm. r C K “It’s amazing how much we talk about politicians and how little we talk rom the botched attempt to rescue the U.S. about what politicians actually do. Politicians govern. Elaine Kamarck has diplomats held hostage by Iran in 1980 under rectified that brilliantly in Why Presidents Fail, showing that an inability to President Jimmy Carter and the missed govern effectively is at the heart of recent presidential failures. This is crucial intelligence on Al Qaeda before 9/11 under information, compellingly told.” George W. Bush to, most recently, the com- —Joe Klein, columnist, Time Magazine puter meltdown that marked the arrival of health care reform under Barack Obama, the American “Elaine Kamarck’s book is a must-read for all presidential candidates, presidency has often been a profile in failure. In correspondents, students of government, and citizens who hunger for Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed Washington to function well again. There’s a stick of dynamite in every chapter.” Again, Elaine Kamarck surveys presidential fail- —Donna Brazile, commentator, Cnn ures to understand why Americans have lost faith elaine C. KaMarCK is a senior fellow in the in their leaders—and how they can get it back. “Why have so many modern presidencies begun in hope and ended in Governance Studies program at Brookings and disappointment? In this concise and trenchant book, Elaine Kamarck offers the founding director of the Center for Effective Kamarck, a White House insider and Harvard a convincing answer: Too many presidents have neglected a vital part of their Public Management. She is also on the faculty of job, managing the federal government. Kamarck’s compelling case studies of academic, argues that presidents today spend too the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and political disasters are page-turners—a label few books on public administration much time talking and not enough time governing. a has worked in several American presidential cam- ever get. Every American should read this book before voting. Would-be n They have not balanced three components of lead- d paigns. Her other books include Primary Politics, White House aides should read it more than once.” H ership that must be exercised to bring about good o 2nd ed. (Brookings, 2015). —Doyle McManus, Washington columnist, Los Angeles Times w results: policy, communication, and implementa- T h tion. Instead, presidents have allowed themselves e “In this magnificent and timely book, Elaine Kamarck unlocks vital truths y to become more and more distant from the federal C about why modern presidents so often fail—and what they must do to succeed. a bureaucracy that is supposed to implement n Writing as both a superb scholar and a seasoned White House adviser, her S policy. After decades of “imperial” and “rhetori- case-based analyses of several recent presidencies leave none of conventional uc cal” presidencies, we are in need of a “manage- academic wisdom unchallenged. This wise book will be read by scholars and c and How They Can e rial” president. Kamarck explains the difficulties e students for generations to come—and it ought to be read by the president, top White House aides, and cabinet leaders right now!” d a Succeed again of governing in our modern political landscape, g and offers examples and recommendations of how a —John J. DIiulio Jr., Frederic Fox leadership Professor, University of Pennsylvania in our next presidents can not only recreate faith in leadership but also run a competent, successful administration. BrooKings institution Press Cover image: P Wei/iStock Washington, D.C. Cover design by Beth Schlenoff www.brookings.edu/press Final Kamarck jacket.indd 1 5/2/16 4:41 PM WHY PRESIDENTS FAIL Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 1 5/3/16 11:29 AM Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 2 5/3/16 11:29 AM WHY PRESIDENTS FAIL And How They Can Succeed Again ELAINE C. KAMARCK brookings institution press Washington, D.C. Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 3 5/3/16 11:29 AM Copyright © 2016 Elaine C. Kamarck the brookings institution 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 www.brookings.edu All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the Brookings Institution Press. The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization de- voted to research, education, and publication on important issues of domestic and foreign policy. Its principal purpose is to bring the highest quality independent research and analysis to bear on cur- rent and emerging policy problems. Interpretations or conclusions in Brookings publications should be understood to be solely those of the authors. Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication data are available. ISBN 978- 0- 8157- 2778- 1 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN 978- 0- 8157- 2779- 8 (ebook) ISBN 978- 0- 8157- 2780- 4 (pdf) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Typeset in Sabon MT Composition by Elliott Beard Kamarck_Why Presidents Fail_i-xvi_1-189.indd 4 5/3/16 11:51 AM To Abe, Ben, and Chloe and the families they have built Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 5 5/3/16 11:29 AM Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 6 5/3/16 11:29 AM Contents PREFACE The Crisis of Competence in the American Presidency ix CHAPTER ONE Introduction: Presidential Failure 1 CHAPTER TWO Helicopters in the Desert 17 CHAPTER THREE Ignoring the Flashing Lights 35 Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 7 5/3/16 11:29 AM viii Contents CHAPTER FOUR We Look Like a Third World Country 71 CHAPTER FIVE Space Walks and Crashing Websites 91 CHAPTER SIX The Buck Doesn’t Stop Here after All 111 CHAPTER SEVEN The Voter’s Guide to Picking Presidents 137 Notes 155 Index 171 Kamarck_WPF_5-1/2x8-1/4_i-xvi_1-189.indd 8 5/3/16 11:29 AM