Presidential Travel and the Rose Garden Strategy: A Case Study of Ronald Reagan's 1984 Tour of Europe

The “Rose Garden strategy” has traditionally been understood to refer to presidential activity within Washington, DC, where incumbents drape themselves in the grandeur and symbolism associated with the office of the presidency in an attempt to bolster their public image. This article argues that our...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPresidential studies quarterly Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 864 - 888
Main Author Thomson, Sarah Margaret Grace
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington Center for the Study of the Presidency 01.12.2020
Subjects
Case studies
Media coverage
Presidents
Public image
Public opinion
Reagan, Ronald Wilson
Symbolism
Travel
Understanding
Europe
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Summary:The “Rose Garden strategy” has traditionally been understood to refer to presidential activity within Washington, DC, where incumbents drape themselves in the grandeur and symbolism associated with the office of the presidency in an attempt to bolster their public image. This article argues that our understanding of the Rose Garden strategy should be conceptualized more broadly to encompass activities beyond Washington, DC. It does so by examining the role of overseas presidential travel in incumbents' reelection strategies, taking Ronald Reagan's 1984 European tour as a case study. Reconceptualizing our understanding of the Rose Garden strategy offers us a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between the president, the public, and the press by demonstrating the benefits and limitations of positive press coverage in relation to public opinion of the president.
ISSN:0360-4918
1741-5705
DOI:10.1111/psq.12684