Brookings: Experts - Stephen Hess

Are Obama's Czars Un-American?

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The current controversy over the number of "czars" in the Obama administration enjoys the rare distinction of being a political fight in Washington that everybody wants to have. However, Stephen Hess is confounded by the controversy since presidents have always had close advisers with powerful portfolios who did not require Senate confirmation.

America's Top Political Dynasty?

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The United States Constitution states that "no title of nobility shall be granted by the United States," yet it seems political nobility is as American as apple pie, writes Stephen Hess. In developing a robust ranking of the country’s most prominent political families, Hess tracks the constant shift in America’s long history of dynastic politics.

Senator Kennedy's Legacy and Impact

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:28:15 GMT

Senator Edward Kennedy served in the U.S. Senate for nearly 50 years and left behind a legacy of service and commitment. Senior Fellow Emeritus Stephen Hess observes that Kennedy was one of the most noted figures in the U.S. Senate and will likely be the last member of his family to leave such an indelible mark on politics.

Does the 100 Day Presidential Benchmark Matter?

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:18:51 GMT

Brookings presidential scholar Stephen Hess discusses the relevance of the 100-day benchmark moment to gauging a president's ability to fit the shoes and the office of his many notable predecessors. The comparisons, he notes, are not easy to make.

What Now? The Inauguration

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Filled with symbol and ceremony, the whole world will be watching as never before. Stephen Hess discusses how former presidents have chosen music, poetry, representatives of the clergy and family bibles to set the scene.

What Now? Choosing Your Cabinet

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Washington world is full of talented, accomplished people whose expertise in their fields is unquestioned – yet many fail as cabinet officers at the pinnacle of power. Stephen Hess advises the new president on where to look for cabinet talent.

What Now? Your Speechwriters

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Will the soaring rhetoric of President-elect Obama's campaign speeches translate to the White House, where he has named 26-year-old wordsmith Jon Favreau to head his speechwriting staff? Former Eisenhower speechwriter and longtime presidential aide Stephen Hess discusses the role of the speechwriter in delivering the chief executive's vision to the people.

What Now? Your Congressional Relations Chief

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

President-elect Obama has chosen Phil Schiliro, a veteran of the Senate and House of Representatives, to be his liaison to Capitol Hill. Stephen Hess, author of What Do We Do Now?, says that Schiliro’s long congressional experience and low profile have been hallmarks of success for his predecessors.

What Now? Picking Your Press Secretary

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Many new presidents pick their campaign spokesperson to handle the White House press corps. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, as Stephen Hess advises in this installment of What Do We Do Now?.

What Now? Staffing the White House

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this second installment of What Do We Do Now?, his new workbook for the president-elect, Stephen Hess advises the winner to start staffing the White House right away, from the chief of staff, counsel, press secretary and speech writers.

Transition Memo to the President-Elect

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

President-elect Barack Obama will be besieged by proposals to reorganize government. Stephen Hess offers five tips for avoiding political minefields on the way to inauguration day.

Where Obama Should Find Cabinet Members

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Stephen Hess offers suggestions to the new president-elect on how to best fill his cabinet. Hess cautions Obama, who will need to fill twice as many jobs than John F. Kennedy did, to factor in diversity as well as political and managerial talent.

Obama's White House Transition Strategy Begins to Emerge

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Stephen Hess joined Norman Ornstein and Judy Woodruff on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer to provide insight on President-elect Obama’s transition process.

A Primer For Obama's Transition Team

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What Now? Getting Started

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The new president has just 77 days between the election and the inauguration to prepare for taking over the highest office in the land. This excerpt from Stephen Hess’s book offers tips on where he should start.

After the Vice Presidential Debate

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:57:42 GMT

The vice presidential face-off is behind us, but two more presidential debates lie ahead. Brookings presidential expert Stephen Hess says that televised debates are entertainment, providing voters a glimpse into the candidates’ demeanor, but little of their substance. Governor Sarah Palin showed viewers that she could stay in the ring with Senator Joe Biden, but it wasn't a changer in the race.

McCain, Obama Take Campaigns Abroad

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Stephen Hess discusses the significance of oversea trips by presidential candidates with Jesus Esquivel of Proceso and Michel Martin on NPR's Tell Me More.

Q&A on Alberto Gonzalez's Resignation

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Q&A with Stephen Hess, The Brookings Institution (8/27/07)

Through Their Eyes : Foreign Correspondents in the United States

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Informed by scores of interviews and armed with original survey research, Hess reveals the mindset of foreign correspondents from a broad sample of countries.

Top gun: biographies that best explain the U.S. presidency

Sat, 15 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Stephen Hess; Globe and Mail (01/15/05)

Covering a ""War Without End""

Sat, 01 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Stephen Hess, Presstime (November 2003)

Media on Terror

Thu, 11 Sep 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Marvin Kalb and Stephen Hess, NPR's Morning Edition (9/11/03)

The Media and the War on Terrorism

Thu, 17 Jul 2003 00:00:00 GMT

These candid conversations capture the difficulties of reporting during crisis and war, particularly the tension between government and the press.

The Media as Conduit for Transatlantic Understanding

Fri, 16 May 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Speech by Stephen Hess, The Future of Transatlantic Relations Conference in Helsinki, Finland (05/16/03)

Pentagon Gamble Pays Off - So Far

Mon, 07 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Stephen Hess, The Baltimore Sun, (4/07/03)

Powell's UN Presentation Has Positive, Yet Marginal, Effect on U.S. Newspaper Editorials

Thu, 06 Feb 2003 00:00:00 GMT

This study by Stephen Hess of ""war with Iraq"" editorial positions--before and after Secretary of State Powell's presentation to the UN Security Council on February 5, 2003--in the 25 largest circulation U.S. newspapers shows shifts toward President B

Political Dynasties

Mon, 28 Oct 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Interview by Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, the Brookings Institution, on NPR's Talk of the Nation, October 28, 2002

Organizing the Presidency : Third Edition

Mon, 16 Sep 2002 00:00:00 GMT

The third edition of Organizing the Presidency surveys presidential organizations from Franklin Roosevelt¡¯s to George W. Bush¡¯s, examining the changing responsibilities of the executive branch jobs and their relationships with one another, C

Bush's 'A Team': Just Like Clinton's, But More So

Sun, 27 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, Guest Scholar, and Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, the Brookings Institution, in the Washington Post, January 27, 2002

Bush's 'A Team': Just Like Clinton's, But More So

Sun, 27 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, and Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, Guest Scholar, the Brookings Institution, in The Washington Post

George's Jimmy Problem

Fri, 06 Jul 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution in TOMPAINE.com, July 6, 2001.

First Impressions: A Look Back at Five Presidential Transitions

Thu, 01 Mar 2001 00:00:00 GMT

In this Brookings Review article, Stephen Hess offers a quick survey of the highlights—and lowlights—of five first-term transitions and provides a roadmap to successful transitions.

Presidential Transition: Less Seems to be More

Sun, 25 Feb 2001 00:00:00 GMT

The contested election of 2000 provides an excellent example of what can be gained or lost by cutting the traditional 10- to 11-week transition period in half, argues Stephen Hess. President George W. Bush's transition has been remarkably smooth, compared with those of Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush. But the transition's apparent success belies the increasing difficulties in getting a new administration "up and running."

Federalism & News: Media to Government: Drop Dead

Fri, 01 Dec 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Stephen Hess (Winter 2000)

The First Presidential Debate: Who Won?

Thu, 05 Oct 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, the Brookings Institution, on NPR's Online Chat, October 5, 2000

The First Presidential Debate: Who Won?

Thu, 05 Oct 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Interview on NPR's Online Chat with Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, the Brookiongs Institution, on October 5, 2000

First Impressions: Presidents, Appointments, and the Transition

Mon, 18 Sep 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Presidential transitions are chaotic times dominated by the selection of the White House staff and the Cabinet. Brookings scholar Stephen Hess has analyzed the five most recent first-term transitions and drawn lessons for the next president.

The More Things Change: The Long, Drawn-Out Campaign

Tue, 06 Jun 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, in TOMPAINE.com, June 9, 2000

Stephen Hess: Even Campaigners Should Follow Etiquette

Mon, 08 May 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Interview by CNN Sunday Morning with Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, the Brookings Institution on May 8, 2000

The Little Book of Campaign Etiquette, 2000 Election Edition : For Everyone with a Stake in Politicians and Journalists

Mon, 20 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT

This shrewd and amusing series of observations provides a political etiquette for campaign behavior on the part of both politicians and journalists.

Political Dynasties: An American Tradition

Sun, 27 Feb 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, for TOMPAINE.com, February 27, 2000

Jimmy Carter: Why He Failed

Fri, 21 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, in TomPaine.com, January 21, 2000

On Being Disillusioned with Politics in Defense of Politicians

Mon, 22 Nov 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, November 22, 1999

Corrections: When the News Media Make Mistakes

Tue, 01 Dec 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, The Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics, Winter 1998

The Once to Future Worlds of Presidents Communicating

Tue, 01 Sep 1998 00:00:00 GMT

article by Stephen Hess, Presidential Studies Quarterly, vol. 28 (Fall 1998)

The Little Book of Campaign Etiquette : For Everyone with a Stake in Politicians and Journalists

Wed, 26 Aug 1998 00:00:00 GMT

In this shrewd and amusing series of observations, Stephen Hess provides a political etiquette for campaign behavior on the part of both politicians and journalists. With its broad coverage of campaign-related topics and its sensible suggestions, thi

Clinton Popularity Bombs Inside the Beltway

Wed, 08 Apr 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, in Newsday, April 8, 1998

International News & Foreign Correspondents

Fri, 29 Dec 1995 00:00:00 GMT

In this fifth volume of his highly acclaimed Newswork series, Stephen Hess offers a revealing look at how the print and broadcast media cover international affairs and how foreign correspondents do their work, and concludes with suggestions for impro

Presidents & the Presidency : Essays by Stephen Hess

Fri, 15 Dec 1995 00:00:00 GMT

This book contains a collection of Stephen Hess's best essays on the presidency. Written over a fifteen year period, the essays selected are just as relevant today as when they were first published. Each essay says something useful about the office o

News & Newsmaking : Essays by Stephen Hess

Fri, 15 Dec 1995 00:00:00 GMT

Over the last fifteen years, Stephen Hess has become a leading and much-quoted authority on Washington government and the media. In this volume, he presents a collection of his best essays on the media written over the past decade.

Live from Capitol Hill! : Studies of Congress and the Media

Sun, 01 Sep 1991 00:00:00 GMT

In this fourth volume of his highly acclaimed Newswork series, Stephen Hess offers a revealing look at the culture of journalism in Washington and the relations between legislators and the media.

Organizing the Presidency, rev. ed.

Wed, 09 Nov 1988 00:00:00 GMT

&[A]ny president would benefit from reading Mr. Hess's analysis and any reader will enjoy the elegance with which it is written and the author's wide knowledge and good sense.& - The Economist &...magnificent study& -- John Osborne, The New Republic