xample if Nixon tried to persuade Congress to pass a certain bill after the Watergate, chances are he would be unsuccessful. Public approval rating is one of the most important things for a president. A president with a high enough approval rating can take up more issues and solve them than a president with a low ratings, therefore improving his position in the office. To demonstrate importance of public approval rating one can look at the recent events surrounding Bill Clinton. While he was the in office, the economy was booming, unemployment was under control and foreign policy seemed to be working, so naturally Clinton was in good shape as far as his ratings were concerned. When the Monica scandal broke out and the president was in danger of being impeached, it was his good public approval ratings that has helped him stay in the office. Congress had probably felt a little unsure of impeaching a president in such a good standing. Had Clinton's ratings been lower he would have probably been out of office by now. Presidents ability to go public is second requirement for effective political leadership. Is a president is successful in persuading American public than in turn he will be effective in dealing with the Washington community. The reason behind this is that if the public is persuaded, then public can force their congressmen to vote in the way they want it, and the president wants it. "Fireside chats", a strategy developed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, were among the first attempts to "go public". FDR was the first president to deploy use of radio to better his position in the office. "Fireside chats" were radio shows during which FDR would discuss some of the issues and policies our government was dealing with at the time. These talks were rare but extremely efficient in achieving their goal which was to promote FDR's policy. The use of television was the next step up. JFK was the first president to use television as...
