Presidential Capacity
Some lament the lack of "capacity" in the contemporary U.S. Congress. We show many of the empirical indicators of its incapacity are also true of the White House, and explain why. Presidents are thought of as pursuers of effective government who care about changing policy. We argue they are also politicians who must credit-claim and advertise their work. This results in different organizational choices---about who to hire, how long to keep them, and how to structure their White House. Using new data on White House staff employment from 1995--2024, we show that the president tends to hire people with public relations and media experience over policy experts, pull staff from members of Congress that are close to them ideologically, and that within presidential terms, the White House has an annual turnover rate comparable to the construction or manufacturing industry. Our study revises what it means for presidents to "politicize" the presidency.
Kenneth Lowande studies American political institutions and policymaking. He has published research on congressional oversight, presidential power, and policy implementation. Lowande previously held research fellowships at Washington University in St. Louis and Princeton University. In October 2024, his book False Front: The Failed Promise of Presidential Power will be published by the University of Chicago Press.