If you’ve ever read a White House memoir, or a book on what goes on inside this or that administration (typically by Bob Woodward), you know president’s often have a peculiar view of their cabinets.
These people, who were handpicked, either happily or not so much, by the president, were originally marginal figures, with as much power as the presidential dog. Ask a White House historian and you may find that Bo has more influence in foreign policy now than the Millard Filmore cabinet ever did.
Around the time Eisenhower and Kennedy picked the men (only men, back then) that would help them lead the nation, some major responsibilities were finally given to the cabinet. They had actual power and were no longer just placemats with fancy titles. As soon as this power was siphoned off to them, it led to interesting subsequent relationships between the hand that fed and the dog(s).
Nixon was typical Nixon when it came to his cabinet. He called them “idiots,” “dirty,” and a bunch of “clowns.” He delegated what he thought of as the boring work to them: domestic policy. Nixon was so antagonistic towards his cabinet (save for his kindred spirit, his national security advisor, Prof. Henry Kissinger) that he would lock them out of meetings or leave them with little hesitation.
George Bush’s cabinet was more like a fraternity. Everybody thought in groupthink, prompting the disillusioned Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill to call the scene a “blind man leading a room full of deaf people.” Those that just couldn’t take the blindness left promptly (Powell), while the rest were held tight by Bush with ardent loyalty.
Obama’s cabinet is somewhere in the middle. Although Obama is a seasoned pol who knows the importance of loyalty and respect in politics, he is not emotionally attached to his crew like Bush was. He did not shed a tear when he promptly dropped his nominee for the Secretary of Health, Tom Daschle, when he was caught in tax snafu. The same went for Bill Richardson, his intended Secretary of Commerce and fierce ally. Obama lacks the heat Nixon had toward his cabinet, or the warmth Bush shed over his.
And while the full nature of the relationship between the two has yet to be seen (there has yet to be a disagreement on policy or protocol between them), there is a definite idea as to what role each play in public.
This administration’s cabinet still hasn’t decided what kind it will be. At times it can be a unified front of wiz kids, showcasing their strength and smarts on Sunday morning shows and press conferences. Most of the times, however, it looks neutered, with very little panache of their own.
Timothy Geithner, the Treasury Secretary, may be the best example of the latter. As soon as he was confirmed by the Senate, he sparkled with ambition and daring, coming up with innovative ways to rescue the economy. Once those ambitious and daring proposals were shot down by everyone and their mother, he scuttled back behind Obama, wounded and afraid. He has not recuperated much since then, choosing to now flex his muscle in private and in whispers.
Hillary Clinton may be the best example of a cabinet member that can stand on her own, yet collaborate with the president and the rest of the team when needed. She’s taken initiative on various topics (Af-Pak, human/women’s rights around the globe), all while showing a deference to the president. She is, in a sense, the perfect cabinet member–as if anyone would doubt she was capable of taking up this job.
Other Secretaries are somewhere in the middle, trying to become “deputies of their own department,” as Nixon expected from his cabinet, but not willing to pull too far away from Obama and face the cold reality by themselves. Arnie Duncan- Education, Ray LaHood-Transportation, Kathleen Sebelius-Health, among others, are slowly filling their role, making their own name and departments, but they are not there yet.
Once all cabinet members truly own their departments it will make President Obama’s life a whole lot easier and productive. At the moment, he still has to hold their hand, or intervene when they botch the task. His cabinet is definitely smart, possibly as book smart as Kennedy’s “best and the brightest.” Now they just have to get street smart. Hillary could definitely teach them that.
You might want to check these out, too:
Tags: bush · cabinet · hillary clinton · nixon · obama · timothy geithnerNo Comments
0 responses so far ↓