|
|
 | THE SECOND TIME AROUND An exploration of Presidential Second Terms |  |
|---|
Questions asked
in this forum:
Are Presidents more likely to speak their minds in their second term i.e. Eisenhower and his "Military Industrial Complex" speech? How does the "lame duck syndrome" effect the workings of the Presidency? What kind of a physical toll does eight years in the White House take on the President? Should Americans have the opportunity to award a successful President a third term? Why didn't Truman and Johnson run for second terms? Viewer comments
Return to the Second Time Around's top page.
Online NewsHour Links
December 23, 1996: A NewsHour panel of historians looks at historical second terms.
December 20, 1996: President Clinton announces the new cabinet members who will join him for his second term.
December 6, 1996: Perspective on foreign policy and second term presidents comes from a panel of historians.
Stephen Ambrose looks at the formative years of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Character Above All investigates the role of character in the American presidency.
Joanna Kroon of Atlanta, Georgia, asks: Throughout both his terms, Eisenhower was very popular, as a war hero, and president. Foreign policy was rather clear cut during his time: Russia was the enemy and Communism the threat. If Eisenhower were alive today, what advice would he give Clinton as he formulates his foreign policy in our more complicated, less black and white, modern world?
Presidential Historian Michael Beschloss reponds:
It is a bit risky to put words in the mouths of dead Presidents who are not here to defend themselves, but Eisenhower was very much aware of the importance of the President as public educator in foreign policy. He might remind Clinton that for most of American history the American people have not been very interested in the rest of the world or eager to make great sacrifices for what seem to be abstract interests and ideals. Especially in the absence of a Soviet threat that is easily understood and dramatized, perhaps the most important influence in explaining foreign issues to the American people and keeping the motivated to make such sacrifices is the voice of the President of the United States. Eisenhower might say that by remaining so quiet about foreign policy (before the invasion of Haiti, for instanceee, Clinton made little effort to explain the problem or get Congress and the people to back it), the President has in his first term deprived Americans of an important part of their education about the world and that when the next international crisis occurs, it will be all the more difficult for him to explain it and arouse them to action.
Presidential Historian Stephen Ambrose reponds:
I think Ike would advise Clinton to keep NATO strong, but to refrain from expanding it for fear of alarming the Russians, who still have a huge nuclear arsenal. He would urge Clinton to hold down defense expenditures but only within the context of making sure the U.S. stays well ahead of the rest of the world in the quality of its men and weapons. And he would tell him to watch out for China, among other things.
Support the kind of journalism done by the NewsHour...Become a member of your local PBS station. PBS Online Privacy Policy
Copyright ©1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved.
