Personality & Power of Lyndon Johnson & Bill Clinton

The personality, power, and persuasion of United States presidents are often directly related to their popularity with people and their ability to get things accomplished. Under both President Lyndon B. Johnson and William J. Clinton many achievements were had that were primarily the result of the personality, power, and persuasiveness of each leader. Under President JohnsonÆs leadership, astronauts orbited the moon, the Great Society akin to RooseveltÆs New Deal was constructed, and the Civil Rights Act was passed. Under President ClintonÆs leadership, America enjoyed its lowest unemployment rate in a decade, its lowest inflation rate in three decades, the highest rate of home ownership in its history, declining crime rates and reduced welfare roles (William U.S., 2002, 1). Yet both men would face enormous challenges. Johnson endured the Vietnam War, racial violence, and other issues during his administration that threatened to divide the country in two. Clinton was continually attacked by Republicans and allegedly involved in a number of scandals and sexual peccadilloes, most infamously the Monica Lewinsky affair that resulted in impeachment efforts. Despite such crises, both men were adept as using the media and the force of their own personality and charisma to achieve their ambitions and weather a number of storms that might have seen lesser personalities fall.

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f-destructive manner?ö (Prologue). In order to discover the answers to why Johnson acted as he did with regard to the Vietnam War and why Clinton acted as he did with respect to personal character, an examination of the personalities of each president might help reveal deeper insight. With respect to William J. Clinton, the very charisma that Stephanopolous explains helped Clinton outsmart his enemies, out-hustle his adversaries, and overcome his failings, may have been the very quality that disgraced him. For ClintonÆs charisma and libido were powerful forces combined and women were dazzled by the presidentÆs charm: ôThe fundamental cause for President ClintonÆs phenomenal political success is credited to his extraordinary people skills and unyielding determination for public serviceö (Case, 2002, 1). ClintonÆs father was an alcoholic and his mother was a loyal supporter of his sonÆs artistic and educational development. Her love and loyalty was counterbalanced by his fatherÆs drunken cruelties to both he and his mother. As one historian notes, ôClintonÆs charisma is a by-product of childhood deprivation mixed with a concentrated effort to master human nature...This polarity of love and despair created a personality of aw
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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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