Going Public as a Legislative Weapon: Measuring Presidential Appeals Regarding Specific Legislation

• Published in: Presidential studies quarterly Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Author: BARRETT, ANDREW W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2005; Blackwell Publishing; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Center for the Study of the Presidency
• Subjects: Agenda Setting; Appeals; Bills; Broadcasting industry; Collective action; Company public relations; Congressional legislation; Data collection; Federal legislation; Government initiatives; Heads of state; Legislation; Legislative process; Political participation; President of the United States; Presidents; Public sphere; Public Support; Public television; Publicity; Radio; Relations between the powers; Rhetoric; Television; Television broadcasting; Television networks; U.S.A; United States of America; Weapons; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0360-4918; 1741-5705
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-5705.2004.00232.x

This article examines the public appeals of three modern presidents (Carter, Reagan, and the first Bush) concerning 253 significant pieces of legislation. It shows that these occupants of the Oval Office took their case to the American people only a few times regarding most of the bills examined. This finding holds across a number of measures of presidential appeals, including general appeals, calls for public and congressional action, television and radio appeals, and appeals made outside of Washington, DC. The presidents analyzed were more likely to speak in support of rather than in opposition to legislation, however. They also went public repeatedly regarding a handful of proposals, particularly their own initiatives.