The American President

The American President is a unique feature in representative democracies. Elected by the people, yet endowed with incredible power. The Founding Fathers wanted to avoid a monarchy, yet built a home ("castle") for the President. We have a legislative and judicial branch, but the President is the face of the nation at home and abroad.

As citizens we expect Presidents to solve problems they did not cause and control events that they have no control over. Over the weekend I saw a comment that George W. Bush caused the drowning of an American city (New Orleans). I thought a hurricane did that, but maybe I underestimate the power of the presidency.

Presidents do possess the power to unleash the total destruction of mankind. A military aide follows him around with the nuclear weapons codes to do just that.

Presidents comfort us in times of tragedy. Who can forget Ronald Reagan's speech on the night of the Challenger disaster?

Presidents can make us laugh: John F. Kennedy was known for his wit as well as his eloquence.

Presidents can embarrass us (sorry Bill, but the Monica thing really was embarrassing).

We expect much of the President, often too much. Democrats are always seeking the next FDR or JFK. Republicans have entered into a perpetual search for the next Reagan. Many thought the plain speaking Governor of Texas had more in common with Reagan than his father, but that did not work out. Many thought Bill Clinton had the JFK youth and charisma, but he turned out to be more good ole boy and less statesman.

Some are already measuring the rock on Mount Rushmore for Barack Obama. Others keep hearing the words "Jimmy Carter" every time they see him. For some, expectations are clearly too high for this new President. For others, he is somehow already a failure. Only time and history will tell.

Presidents take office with an agenda, but events shape their administration. It is how they respond to these events that determines their place in history. Washington established a nation and the presidency as an institution. Lincoln refused to allow the nation to divide between right and wrong. Roosevelt would not allow the world to become divided between good and evil. Reagan moved beyond "mutually assured destruction" to winning the cold war. History treats all of them well.

Yet Buchanan could not stop the secession of southern states. Hoover appeared impotent in the face of the market crash. Nixon let his demons get the best of him and Carter was held hostage by a small group of Iranian radicals.

All of these Presidents had their opportunity when the events landed on their desk. It was not their agenda, but it was the fate of their presidency and the key to their place in history.

We will ultimately judge Barack Obama not by whether he the Dow Jones rises back up over 10,000 or more jobs are created. We will judge him by how he responds to unanticipated events. With an office so powerful, he will have little control over what happens. He will have all the control over how he responds.

The American President is so powerful, yet in many ways powerless. We know the 44th takes office on Tuesday, what we don't know is what will determine his place in history.