Presidential Transition: Bush and Obama Power Exchange

A presidential transition expert sheds light on the essential elements required for a successful handoff between incoming and outgoing administrations. With insights gleaned from past transitions, such as those between Bush and Obama, Kumar delves into the crucial components that pave the way for a seamless transfer of power.

Recipient of the prestigious Alternative ACRL CHOICE Excellent Educational Title award.

During the presidential transition from George W. Bush to Barack Obama in 2009, the handover of power seemed straightforward. However, the Bush administration's late revelation of a potential terror threat to the inauguration ceremony added complexity. Despite no attack materializing, the importance of robust contingency plans became evident. This incident highlighted the significance of a smooth and secure transition of power between administrations in American democracy.

Political scientist Martha Joynt Kumar uncovered this secret peril whereas interviewing senior Bush and Obama advisers for her newest guide. In Earlier than the Oath , Kumar paperwork how two presidential groups―one outgoing, the opposite incoming―should forge trusting alliances with a purpose to assist the brand new president reach his or her first time period.

Kumar loved unprecedented entry to a number of incumbent and candidate transition staff members, and she or he combines in-depth scholarship with one-on-one interviews to place readers squarely behind the scenes. Utilizing the Bush-Obama handoff as a lens by means of which to look at the presidential transition course of, Kumar interweaves examples from earlier administrations way back to Truman-Eisenhower. Her topics describe in vivid element the challenges of sowing marketing campaign beliefs throughout a sprawling government department as Congress, the media, and exterior occasions press in. Kumar’s vigorous account of classes discovered and pitfalls encountered throughout previous presidential transitions supplies a necessary street map for presidential aspirants and their advisers, in addition to marketing campaign employees, federal workers, and political appointees.