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The Presidential Transition

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioThe Scouting Report: A New Presidency Begins

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

On Wednesday, January 21, Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies, offered his analysis of President Obama’s inaugural speech in Brookings’s weekly web chat with Politico.com. West also discussed the political situation facing the new president and answered questions from participants in a live chat. Read More

The Presidential Transition, The Presidency, U.S. Politics, Politics

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioObama's Options for Gaza

Martin S. Indyk, January 19, 2009, Time

Obama's Options for GazaMartin Indyk, director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, argues that there is an opportunity in the Gaza crisis for the new president to achieve a better future for Palestinians and Israelis. The immediate objective, says Indyk, is a sustainable cease-fire, but then President Obama should urgently to paint his vision of a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, summoning all leaders of goodwill to the task. Read More

Middle East, Gaza Crisis, Arab-Israeli Relations, The Presidential Transition, Diplomacy

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWhat Now? The Inauguration

Stephen Hess, January 15, 2009, The Brookings Institution

What Now? The InaugurationFilled 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. Read More

The Presidency, The Presidential Transition, U.S. Politics, Politics

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioRestore American Leadership to Address Transnational Threats

Thursday, January 15, 2009
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Washington, DC

ReutersA new American president must model leadership for a global era, partnering with other powers to build an international security system for the 21st Century. On January 15, Carlos Pascual presented his recommendations to President Obama on how to restore credible American leadership; galvanize cooperative action against major global challenges; and revitalize key international institutions. Read More

Transnational Security Threats, The Presidential Transition, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Terrorism

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioMemo to the President: Restore American Leadership to Address Transnational Threats

Carlos Pascual, January 15, 2009, The Brookings Institution

Memo to the President: Restore American Leadership to Address Transnational ThreatsThe 44th president will face a world of transnational threats and multiple crises. The United States cannot succeed alone. Carlos Pascual presents his recommendations to President Obama on how to restore credible American leadership; galvanize cooperative action against major global challenges; and revitalize key international institutions. Read More

Transnational Security Threats, The Presidential Transition, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Proliferation

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioThe Scouting Report: Restore American Leadership to Address Transnational Threats

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

The 21st century will be defined by security threats that transcend borders, from climate change, nuclear proliferation and terrorism to conflict, poverty and economic instability. The greatest test of global leadership will be building partnerships and institutions for cooperation that can meet the challenge. On January 14, Carlos Pascual, vice president and director of Foreign Policy at Brookings, and Politico's John Ward Anderson discussed how President-elect Barack Obama can restore credible American leadership. Read More

Transnational Security Threats, The Presidential Transition, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Proliferation

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioAmerican Soft Power in Asia

Richard C. Bush III, January 2009, The Brookings Institution

American Soft Power in AsiaCNAPS Director Richard Bush argues that American soft power in East Asia is diminished but not exhausted. Our postwar record, the goodwill of friends in the region and the special character of the 2008 presidential election create a basis on which to restore it. This is a strategic opportunity that should not be missed, says Bush. Read More

Asia, Northeast Asia, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioCentral America in 2009: Off the U.S. Radar

Abraham F. Lowenthal, January 06, 2009, The Brookings Institution

Central America in 2009: Off the U.S. RadarAs Barack Obama prepares to take office, Central America is falling off the radar among the many accumulated problems to address, domestic and international. Abraham Lowenthal examines four Central American countries and compares their changes and growth. He recommends modest investments in the region for the new Obama administration. Read More

Central America, Latin America, Economic Development, Global Economics, Development

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioFacing the Media: The View From the White House Press Room Podium

Thursday, December 18, 2008
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Washington, DC

Reuters/Larry DowningHow do you explain the president's position on Iraq or the economic downturn to a roomful of flashing cameras and open notebooks? On December 18, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino joined Stephen Hess to talk about the role of the White House spokesman. The discussion included Clinton spokesman Mike McCurry and Ron Nessen, press secretary during Ford's presidency. Read More

The Presidential Transition, The White House

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Obama Administration Will Be Very Cautious on Foreign Policy

Strobe Talbott, December 16, 2008, Spiegel Online

The Obama Administration Will Be Very Cautious on Foreign PolicyIn a Spiegel interview, US foreign policy expert Strobe Talbott discusses the daunting foreign policy challenges facing Obama, the next president's desire to turn Americans into global citizens and the prospects for reinvigorated trans-Atlantic relations. Read More

Global Governance, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, The Presidency, Transatlantic Relations

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWhat Now? Choosing Your Cabinet

Stephen Hess, December 12, 2008, The Brookings Institution

What Now? Choosing Your CabinetThe 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. Read More

The Presidential Transition, The Presidency, The White House, Presidential Appointments, Governance

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioReagan to Bush: Brookings and the 1988-89 Presidential Transition

December 11, 2008, The Brookings Institution

Reagan to Bush: Brookings and the 1988-89 Presidential TransitionEven though the 1988 presidential transition featured a handover from a two-term president (Ronald Reagan) to his own vice president (George H.W. Bush), experts at Brookings recognized that even an intra-party transition between political allies suffered from a lack of communication between outgoing presidential aides and their counterparts in the new administration. Read More

The Presidential Transition, The Presidency, The White House, Governance, Politics

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioRedefine America's Global Development Cooperation

Wednesday, December 10, 2008
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Washington, DC

Redefine America's Global Development CooperationThe fight against global poverty has become a fight for global security. But after an awkward entrance into the 21st century, America must redefine its role in the world, including its relations with developing countries. Colin Bradford offered a public memo to the president-elect with recommendations how to modernize U.S. aid efforts and address the global development challenges of the new century effectively and with accountability. Read More

Global Poverty, Foreign Aid, Foreign Assistance Reform, Development, The Presidential Transition

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioThe Scouting Report: Rebuild Financial Institutions and Confidence

Wednesday, December 10, 2008
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Reuters - A trader on the floor of the NYSEA new administration is an opportunity for restoring confidence in the U.S. economy through greater transparency in how the financial system works and through new regulations that assure that such a crisis will not happen again. On December 10, Martin Baily answered questions in a live web chat with Politico about fixing our troubled economy. Read More

U.S. Economy, Troubled Asset Relief Program, Financial Institutions, Financial Markets, The Presidential Transition

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioMemo to the President: Redefine America's Global Development Cooperation

Colin I. Bradford and Noam Unger, December 10, 2008, The Brookings Institution

Memo to the President: Redefine America's Global Development CooperationAmerica cannot afford to retreat from the fight against global poverty in a world where remote challenges can rapidly metastasize into global threats. Instead the United States must demonstrate renewed leadership and showcase its national spirit by investing wisely through more effective global development cooperation. Read More

Global Poverty, Foreign Aid, Foreign Assistance Reform, Development, The Presidential Transition

The Original Cabinets: Eisenhower to George W. Bush

Over the years, the president's cabinet has expanded from a handful of close advisors to the leaders of 15 federal departments and other key officials the president chooses to grant cabinet rank. This chart presents the starting line ups of the past 50 years from President Eisenhower to George W. Bush, and shows the increasing diversity and complexity of the cabinet.

Download the PDF »

Featured Experts

Stephen Hess

Stephen Hess

Senior Fellow Emeritus, Governance Studies

A veteran staffer of the Eisenhower and Nixon administrations and an advisor to Presidents Ford and Carter, Stephen Hess focuses on the presidency, the news media, and the political culture of Washington.
Read More

William G. Gale

William G. Gale

Vice President and Director, Economic Studies
Arjay and Frances Miller Chair in Federal Economic Policy

Bill Gale, a Brookings vice president and director of the Economic Studies Program, is an expert on tax policy, fiscal issues, pensions, and saving behavior. He is also co-director of the Tax Policy Center and director of the Retirement Security Project.
Read More

Darrell M. West

Darrell M. West

Vice President and Director, Governance Studies

Darrell M. West is the vice president and director of Governance Studies at Brookings. His studies include campaigns and elections, political advertising, mass media, public opinion, technology policy and electronic government.
Read More

Carlos Pascual

Carlos Pascual

Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy

Carlos Pascual is a senior fellow in Foreign Policy at Brookings. A former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and senior director on the National Security Council staff, he focuses on post-conflict stabilization, international security policy, nonproliferation and economic development with particular focus on Europe, Russia and Ukraine. Pascual was vice president and director of Foreign Policy at Brookings from 2006-2009.
Read More

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Spotlight

ProgramMetropolitan Policy Program

Redefining the challenges facing metropolitan America and promoting innovative solutions to help communities grow in more inclusive, competitive and sustainable ways.

Policy CenterCenter on Children and Families

The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America's children and their parents and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States.

ExpertRobert Puentes

Robert Puentes focuses on the broad array of policies and issues related to metropolitan growth and development. He is an expert on transportation and infrastructure, urban planning, growth management, suburban issues and housing.

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  She is completing a project on the politics of advice and consent, and is at work on the politics of how Congress responds to financial crises.

TopicEducation

The economic and political well-being of any democracy requires a well-educated citizenry. Brookings’s work has extended beyond the K-12 bookends to include pre-school interventions and issues in higher education. Experts are tackling fundamental issues on the role of education in the national and global economy.

Policy CenterJohn L. Thornton China Center

The John L. Thornton China Center develops analysis and policy recommendations to help address key long-term challenges, both in terms of U.S.-China relations and China's internal development.

Policy CenterCenter on the United States and Europe

The Center on the U.S. and Europe is dedicated to the study of Europe and U.S.-Europe relations. It involves American and European experts in an active program of research, analysis, and debate.

ExpertVanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is a security studies professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

TopicHealth Care

Brookings is committed to producing innovative policy solutions to our nation’s most difficult challenges. The country may face no more important domestic policy challenge than the much-needed reform of our health care system. Through an institution-wide effort, Brookings delivers new ideas and offers policy solutions to improve health care both at home and globally.

Research Project21st Century Defense Initiative

The 21st Century Defense Initiative produces cutting-edge research, analysis, and outreach that address some of the most critical issues facing leaders shaping defense policy in the coming century. The initiative focuses on three core issues: the future of war, the future of U.S. defense needs and priorities, and the future of the U.S. defense system

Research ProjectAfrica Growth Initiative

The Africa Growth Initiative conducts high-quality policy research and analysis focused on attaining sustainable economic development and prosperity in Africa, while amplifying the voice of African researchers in policy-making and planning.

Research ProjectBudgeting for National Priorities

The Budgeting for National Priorities project promotes greater fiscal responsibility by developing new ideas, educating the public and finding common ground among experts and policy-makers.

ExpertEswar Prasad

Eswar Prasad, who holds the New Century Chair in International Economics, is a senior fellow in Global Economy and Development. He is the Tolani Senior Professor of Trade Policy at Cornell University and was previously head of the Financial Studies Division and the China Division at the IMF.

TopicMigration

Migration is an issue that bridges Brookings’s expertise in domestic and foreign policy. In the United States, reforming immigration policy remains a subject of intense political debate. Globally, the unprecedented movement of people across borders raises issues in both industrialized countries and the developing world.

ExpertMartin Neil Baily

Martin Baily, a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, focuses on issues of globalization, productivity and competitiveness, Social Security reform and U.S. economic policy.