1. W H I C H I S M O R E I M P O R T A N T T O T H E
P R E S I D E N T ?
The Cabinet and EXOP

2. Cabinet
 Cabinet tends to be used to ensure that the work of
the executive branch is directed and drawn together
 Membership includes...........
 It generally plays only a limited role – it meets
infrequently and President may overrule it
 Cabinet members may not have a close relationship
with the President
 Unlike British PM not totally reliant on their support

3. EXOP
 Consists of personal aides/different components NSC,
OMB and WHO
 NS adviser used in different ways – Kissinger
spearheaded foreign policy initiatives with China during
Nixon; Clinton’s advisers eclipsed by secs of state –
Christopher and Albright
 Can play a more significant role – why?
 ‘staffers’ in EXOP more likely to be long term associates
 Cabinet members torn between their loyalty to the
President, departments and interest groups
 Closer proximity

4. Evaluation points
 Presidents have used EOP and Cabinet in different
ways – Nixon overdependent on his closest aides –
Watergate affair
 Significance of Cabinet depends upon individual
style of Presidents – Eisenhower collective decision
making
 Reagan used Cabinet councils – 6-11 cabinet
members to advise & develop policy

5. Evaluation points
 Some Cabinet members have played an important
role in shaping policy eg. James Baker Secretary of
State 1989-93 close relationship with Bush snr; Rice
and Rumsfeld. Importance of bilateral meetings
 President is the sole source of political authority and
Cabinet has no formal role. Use of it is at the
President’s discretion
 Rallying and mobilising support for particular
policies

6. Evaluation points
 David Mervin ‘ Presidents have the gravest
difficulties as it is gaining control of a notoriously
fractious political system, without the expertise and
assistance of the EOP they would helpless and the
US would be truly ungovernable’.