Presidential transitions and the entrepreneurial presidency: of lions, foxes, and puppy dogs

Presidential transitions are crucial in the success of new administrations. Effective presidents are preoccupied with an entrepreneurial approach that is predicated on nimble governance and shrewd implementation. An entrepreneurial approach requires cold-blooded politics that eschews inordinate concern for specific individuals, issues, and policies which might become an impediment to the incoming government. That is, presidents must protect their reputation for effectiveness and their room for maneuver. Nimble governance means choosing among alternative priorities, avoiding blunders, successful maneuvering in the face of overwhelming opposition and wooing supporters and mollifying opponents in Congress, the Washington community at large, and the nation. Shrewd implementation means that a few, carefully selected initiatives are announced early, lobbied energetically, enacted swiftly, and executed boldly. These criteria are applied to the Carter, Reagan, and Bush administrations and prove to be successful in assessing transitions. They emphasize the necessity of an entrepreneurial focus for incoming administrations and for assessing transitions in democratic and political terms.