Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush and Barrack Obama Comparative performance Evaluation
Part I: Introduction
The ability to deliver and overcome leadership challenges as a president determines a weak, medium as well as a strong president. Each president is subjected to a specific period to serve that is characterized by different hurdles which hold tremendous effects on the success or the failure of the administration (Hart and Uhr 10). This paper will be objected at presenting an analysis of the performance evaluation for three presidential administrations to establish their abilities to lead which will categorize each of them as either, weak, medium or a strong president. The evaluation will be based on the congress, strong leadership and popularity. This refers to the ability to influence individuals to follow him, the capability to persuade and convince the members of the congress and the capability in convincing others to accomplish his wishes. The analysis will additionally be performed based on the methods as well as situations from which the decisions were made as well as their effectiveness based on the generated effects.
In the evaluation of the leadership performance for all the three administration will be conducted with the utilization legal and psychological approaches. An approach, in this case, involves different perspectives or beliefs in regard to human behaviors. The psychological approach will evaluate the president's individual functions based on the aspect of performance. This will basically utilize the concept of trait leadership in demonstration of the distinctiveness of leadership held by each. A legal approach generates light on the legal structure by which the administration of the public occurs (Hart and Uhr 17). However, this approach excludes other informal factors which may either be psychological or sociologically based (Hart and Uhr 17). This it is an incomplete approach by itself the psychological approach will offer the helping hand in developing a comprehensive and a reliable analysis on performance.
The three presidents that were selected for the comparative evaluation are Ronald Reagan, Barrack Obama, and George W. Bush. The three presidents were chosen based on the diversity involved in their terms and their capability to focus on creating higher and increased economic as well as social developments. The three presidents were particularly oriented social wellness which would, in turn, facilitate their objective to grow the nation’s economy. They implemented different health, education and business regulatory policy as a way of increasing efficiency and facilitating growth with the primary focus on domestic as well as foreign policies development. The three presidents who are Regan, Obama and George Bush are from the same modern era with all of them serving two consecutive terms of a total of 8 years.
The growing modernity public expectations on the president create a gap that lies amid the anticipations and the formal powers. The presidency state in American has been involved in drastic changes since the 20th century (Maxwell, 14). The three presidents ruled with limited formal presidential authority. Based on the second article of the American constitution it is clearly stated that the president is vested with executive power. The power of the presidents lied on the appointing power executive heads, ambassadors and federal judges (Hart, 12). In addition, the presidents were also allowed to make treaties negotiations and make recognitions of ambassadors from foreign states (Hart, 12). As the chief’s commander the presidents were the commanders of the American armed forces despite the fact that the formal power is retained by the congress in regard to war declaration (Hart, 12). In addition, the presidents were exposed to the power to veto bills that are accepted by the congress despite the fact that the veto can be overridden by the congress house majority. The informal power was obtained from the prestige of the presidential office (Hart, 12).
Biographical Summary
George W. Bush
George W. Bush served for 8 years from 20th January 2001 up to 20th January 2009 as the 43rd president (U.S.A 1). He was a republican (U.S.A 1). He solved handled the issue of the native children through the implementation of education act to incorporate their learning through passing the No child left behind, the issue of racial discrimination, health and implemented high cuts for taxes. The reinstatement of the abortion ban occurred and the creation of community and faith based programs.
Barrack Obama
On the 4th of November in 2008, Barrack Obama Illinois senator was elected as the president over McCain John (U.S.A 1). He then becomes the 44th president and the first ever African American in the American president office. Subsequently he was also elected for an additional term in 2012 over Romney Mitt (U.S.A 1). He was elected and also reelected under the Democratic Party. He addressed the issue of health care affordability by pushing for the implementation of Affordable Care Act, further reduced taxes, ended the recession that had occurred in 2008, made agreements with Iran on nuclear, made the largest global trade agreement and created the highest rate of employment chances (Leanne and Leanne 21).
Ronald Reagan
Reagan, Ronald was the American president in the year 1981 for 8 years up to 1989 for two consecutive terms as a republican as the 40th American president (U.S.A 1). Reagan concentrated more on economic and domestic affairs (U.S.A 1). He ended the raging cold war, fueled economic development through cutting taxes and restraining domestic expenditure, upholding values as well as tax reform. He was highly known for his economic focus and development that were based both on domestic as well as internal polices to facilitate developments.
Part II: Approaches
The president’s analysis will utilize psychological and legal approaches. The legal approach deals with the utilization of both informal and formal authority as stipulated by the governing law. The formal powers refers to the powers which are typically listed in demonstration of roles, functions as well as positions within the government bodies (Daft, and Lane 22). This holds comprehensive details in regard to president and executive responsibilities and authority in a formally developed structure. The president as the government head has the vested power in making decisions in regard to appointments for instance federal judges, executive heads and as well as the American ambassadors (Daft, and Lane 22). An additional formal power held by the president is being the chief commander of the states forces, make treaties negotiations, make recognition of foreign ambassadors and veto policies that the congress passes.
Informal legal powers refers to the ability of influencing others more in accomplishing certain objectives or tasks based on their position (Hart and Uhr 11). This is the general capability to direct, guide or achieves greater things without necessarily relying on the working title. Informal powers of the president are mainly grounded on persuading others in following his lead which is derived from the utilization of visibility as well as prestige of the president office (Hart and Uhr 13). The president as the only person who is nationally elected is responsible for acting for the whole nation. Under the legal approach a strong president is required to be knowledgeable, highly experienced, risk taker, realistic and connectivity. These traits are crucial in the development of better relations with those being managed and the citizens. On the other hand a weak president under the approach would be hesitant in taking risks, irresponsiveness and the abuse of office privileges.
Psychological approach can be described as the integration of personal traits patterns as the reflection of individuality distinctiveness which fosters leading effectiveness. Some of the qualities that should be possessed by leaders under the psychological approach includes emotional stability, enthusiasm, dominance , mind and social boldness , confidence, assertiveness, intelligence , the capability to offer motivation and high capability in making decisions (Hart and Uhr 11). However a limited president under the psychological approach is has poor communication, misses in actions, fails to motivate, poor social connectedness, low creativity, inconsistency and low responsiveness to issues. For the three presidents Reagan, Obama and George Bush the analysis will focus on social boldness, communication and responsiveness.
Part III: Analysis
Effective leadership should be highly experienced, posses high knowledge as well as skills. Based on the psychological approach president Obama is a strong leader. In that as the American president and an effective leader he invested in his personal strength but establishing the right individuals to collaborate with in his delivery (Leanne and Leanne 6). This ensured that the proposition of the bills as well as amendments acquired adequate support. He held a strong ability in understanding the general needs of the citizens. For instance the high need of quality as well as low cost healthcare was recognized by his government which resulted into the implementation of the Affordable Healthcare Act In 2010 (Leanne and Leanne 16). His leadership was additionally based on integrity as well as intelligence where he demonstrated the high act of maintaining his individual ethics and led the nation with courage. As the first African American president most people held the anticipation that his leadership would lean towards favoring the black community which was never the case he served the whole nation as his responsibility.
His leadership was also one that was highly characterized by respect and fairness. For Obama even prior to his presidential win was supporting democracy with the belief that it is the only way that the American persons would be served better and maintain good relations internationally. Specifically, Obama supported the re-commencement of diplomatic proceedings with Iran in regard to nuclear which led to an agreement (Leanne and Leanne 17). He was involved in the opposition of the Act that would term the revolutionary guard as terrorists and thus permitting the American president to position military troops in the state contrarily to the Iranians. This is a clear demonstration that his leadership was based on respect for all states and institutions regardless of their status and relationship. He valued foreign relations and all the foreign states were approached in a diplomatic by him. Fairness was highly upheld which is a significant leadership trait. He delivered tax relief to corporations, small businesses and middle class people through the restoration of fiscal responsibility and tax codes (Leanne and Leanne 17). He was highly motivated which supported his social boldness and capability of supporting others. It is always challenging for a public leader to balance time as well as responsibilities since the president is obligated to a large population. However , for Obama caring was part of his leadership based on the fact that he worked in the creation of affordable healthcare in the united states demonstrating his priority for the society’s wellness (Leanne and Leanne 18).
Moreover, he was a decisive person with high confidence. After his inauguration he was subjected to the worst economic challenge of recession as well as a high debt. In his leadership he forgot the economic disaster by instilling economic confidence in the nation (Leanne and Leanne 26). People must be encouraged for good results to be achieved so that commonness can be obtained (Maxwell 16).
Based on both legal and psychological approaches Reagan was a strong president. President Reagan is described to be a transformer who according to many achieved even the impossible by making every accomplishment to be viewed as easy (Weiler 41). The leadership of Reagan transformed the American economy into a development speed that assured the future generation of stability and prosperity. His strength can be demonstrated by consistency and being a creative decisive maker. He reformed the American military that had been neglected and eventually resulted in the Soviet empire defeat without any firing or even war which restored the Americans spirit through the re-establishment of hope and stronger faith (Weiler 28). He offered protection and sustained responsibility to the citizens by pursuing peace by ensuring that America was fully armed strategically, as well as conventionally.
He did not take any praises because he believed that it was his obligations to deliver the best. His leadership was grounded on simplicity as well as greatness (Weiler 24). His primary objectives was not to generally offer healing to the economic but to generally to ensure that America is defined by developments that offered more jobs to raise the existing standards. In accordance he reduced the taxes in a great and fair way for every individual which decreased the top rate from 70 down to 28 percent (Weiler 29). This strategy offered business with increased capability to engage in competition thus strengthening the dollar value. Reagan fought against the expansion of bureaucracy, decreased the non justifiable expenditures and eliminated prices control, subsidies which was a way of promoting higher investments, productivity as well as economic innovativeness (Weiler 30). His leadership was full of decisiveness, respect, care creativity , the ability to influence people in supporting his lead and appropriate appointments to representing the people.
President George W. Bush can be described as a strong leader under the legal and psychological approach. He is a man that demonstrated perseverance, risk taking, confidence, being a problem solver and a decisive person (Han 8). He is the type of leader does not engaged in trying to acquire compliments or others opinions as he acts based on the situational issue. The 9/11 made most individuals to doubt his abilities as it was said that his decision would be termed to be more of unrealistic but he proved critics wrong (Han 8). This was a very risky decision for him to make but he literally believed in ambitiousness and was highly dependent on the transformative style. Everything that he wanted was to change the American status. However, as a president he highly valued control and command style which is literally against modern leadership as well as good governance (Thompson and Ware 14). He never considered reactions from the public with him he was expected to take care of. However, he held the highest ability in influencing loyal, intense and well as a large crowd (Thompson and Ware 14). He demonstrated no fear and every decision was made based on justification and authority.
Comparative Ranking
Legal Approach
Under the legal approach president Barrack Obama can be categorized as the strongest leader, President Reagan is the middle while George W. Bush is the limited president.
Psychological Approach
Based on the psychological approach President Barrack Obama is still the strongest based on his leadership qualities, followed by Reagan in the Middle position and the limited president is George W. Bush based on his inability to be fair and the utilization of control and command strategies.
Part IV: Conclusion
It is clear through the analysis leadership performance using psychological and legal approaches that the efficiency of the president is determined by the possession of different leadership qualities such as risk taking, decisiveness, confidence, the ability to influence followers, making the right appointments, high responsiveness to needs, integrity intelligence and much more. These qualities and powers utilization determines a strong, middle and a limited president.
Most Limited President
George W. Bush is the most limited president from the analysis. Despite being a transformative and decisive person he portrayed no integrity, care as he over utilized his power in making risky decisions. In addition he utilized the command as well as control strategy in ensuring that those under his leadership accomplished what he thought to be appropriate. His ability to influence more and intense followers was grounded on his authority privileges. Unlike president Obama and Reagan who were concerned about wellness both socially and economically he invested much control.
Middle President
President regard is portrayed to be a respectful, caring objective, confident, decisive and a socially bold person. His ability to influence followers is based on his economic transformation and the ability to focus on individuals wellness rather than himself. Unlike Bush he is not authoritative rather he emphasis democracy. He worked on creating economic opportunities that would enhance even the future prosperity. He is not however diversified in his abilities as he mainly focuses of development of the domestic environment as opposed to Barrack Obama.
Strongest President
Barrack Obama is the strongest among the three presidents, he exercises democracy through fairness, respect, care, intelligence, competence, social boldness, and confidence. Through his serving he was able to implement the Universal Care Act that would enhance the public’s wellness. Also he was able to restore the country from the disastrous economic situation that it was in. he stringed every aspect of the economy as well as the society by encouraging togetherness as a form f motivation to Americans. Through his abilities and leadership transformation and good relations with foreign countries such as Iran were restored.
Work Cited
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Han, Lori C. A Presidency Upstaged: The Public Leadership of George H.w. Bush. College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2011. Print.
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Leanne, Shelly, and Shelly Leanne. Say It Like Obama and Win!: The Power of Speaking with Purpose and Vision. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Internet resource.
Maxwell, John C. Leadership 101. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2002. Internet resource.
Thompson, Carolyn B, and Jim Ware. The Leadership Genius of George W. Bush: 10 Commonsense Lessons from the Commander in Chief. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley, 2003. Print.
U.S. A, Senate. Obama, Barrack. 2017. Retrieved from http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=o000167
U.S.A, Government. George W. Bush. 2017. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/georgewbush
U.S.A, Government. Ronald Regan. 2017. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/ronaldreagan
Weiler, Michael. Reagan and Public Discourse in America. University of Alabama Press, 2006. Print.
