“When you look at George W. Bush, what you see is what you get,” UW political science professor Donald F. Kettl said in his taped book review Thursday night, in which he addressed issues such as the public underestimation of the Bush administration, the president’s uncommon discipline, and what drives Bush as an individual.
Kettl released his book, “Team Bush: Leadership Lessons from the Bush White House,” 10 days ago, and his taped book review will be aired on C-SPAN April 6.
Kettl’s analysis of the style in which Bush runs and approaches his administration is a reflection upon Bush’s Harvard MBA. Bush is the first president with an MBA.
Due to Bush’s education, Kettl argued, he treats the presidency and its administration as a business through teambuilding, strategy, persuasion, and utilization of his presidential power.
Kettl said the greatest tool and key to Bush’s style is “the importance of political capital.”
“Bush builds capital bit by bit, and once he attains a good amount, he spends it,” said Kettl. “Only by spending it, he can have more and get more things done that he wants to — he doesn’t allow it to fizzle away.”
The public has underestimated Bush in the Texas gubernatorial elections and reelections, in debates against Al Gore and his election into presidential office, Kettl said.
He said once Bush entered the office, the public was not sure he had what it took. However, Bush surprised the public with a tax cut, education bill, support after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and aid in midterm elections, Kettl said. Bush’s approval has climbed as high as 90 percent.
Kettl spoke about the rare discipline Bush has, both in his warm, likable personality with a tough edge and in the rules he follows when communicating with the press and public.
Kettl said Bush’s rules include not speaking too often so he makes news when he does speak, not saying too much so the press cannot edit his message, knowing his audience, managing the visuals and the setting surrounding him to portray the prestige of the U.S. president, and sticking with one central message to reinforce it to the public.
Bush’s personality also drives him as an individual, Kettl said. He said Bush can draw Americans in with the friendly, person-to-person contact that does not go over well in Europe.
“Bush is bold and outreaching,” said Kettl. “He wants to do what’s right — not always what’s politically popular.”
Kettl said this trait could be a risk for the Bush administration, especially regarding the conflict in Iraq. He said although Bush seeks advice from his administration, he still falls back on his religious values.
“Doing things well and getting them done versus doing the right thing: this is what will form Bush’s place in history as a spectacular success or a spectacular failure,” Kettl said.
