Report Outline
Eisenhower-Nixon-Kennedy Cooperation
Major Problems in Transfer of Power
Evolution of New Policies on Transition
The Vice President and the Succession
Never before in an election-to-inauguration period have the outgoing and incoming administrations made so wholehearted an effort to work together for an orderly transfer of the federal executive power. Innovations introduced eight years ago when President-elect Eisenhower made ready to take over the duties of President Truman, appear to be evolving into a tradition of mutual effort above the level of partisan politics, to assure effective continuity of government.
The United States position of leadership in the world has made the two-and-a-half month “interregnum” between election and inauguration of a new Chief Executive a period of some anxiety. Attention at home and abroad inevitably turns toward the new source of American power in the figure of a President-elect who has not yet received the seals of office. The greatest hazard to the nation in this situation is eruption of a crisis somewhere on the globe that may require prompt executive action at a time when the incumbent President's power to take a bold course is diminished by his imminent departure from office. In the present case, however, there is considerably less dilution of the “lame-duck” President's authority than is usual, due to Eisenhower's continuing personal popularity and the almost even division of the popular vote in the Nov. 8 election.
Go to top
Eisenhower-Nixon-Kennedy Cooperation
President Eisenhower on the day after the 1960 election promised the full cooperation of himself and his official family to his elected successor in order to facilitate the transfer of authority. In a telegram to President-elect John F. Kennedy, he said: “I stand ready to meet with you at any mutually convenient time to consider problems of continuity of government and orderly transfer of executive responsibility on Jan. 20.” |
|
Executive Powers and the Presidency |
|
 |
Feb. 24, 2006 |
Presidential Power |
 |
Nov. 15, 2002 |
Presidential Power |
 |
Feb. 02, 2001 |
The Bush Presidency |
 |
Jun. 20, 1997 |
Line-Item Veto |
 |
Jun. 14, 1996 |
First Ladies |
 |
Oct. 21, 1988 |
Dangers in Presidential Transitions |
 |
Jun. 10, 1988 |
The Quandary of Being Vice President |
 |
Jan. 06, 1984 |
Presidential Advisory Commissions |
 |
Jul. 28, 1978 |
Presidential Popularity |
 |
Feb. 13, 1976 |
Evaluating Presidential Performance |
 |
Dec. 12, 1975 |
Presidential Protection |
 |
Jul. 11, 1973 |
Presidential Reorganization |
 |
Mar. 07, 1973 |
Presidential Accountability |
 |
Sep. 24, 1971 |
Presidential Diplomacy |
 |
Nov. 11, 1970 |
Vice Presidency |
 |
Oct. 02, 1968 |
Presidential Power |
 |
Mar. 14, 1966 |
War Powers of the President |
 |
Nov. 23, 1960 |
Transfer of Executive Power |
 |
Apr. 04, 1956 |
Vice Presidency |
 |
Oct. 15, 1952 |
Change of Presidents |
 |
Jun. 09, 1950 |
President and Mid-Term Elections |
 |
Oct. 20, 1948 |
Federal Patronage |
 |
Mar. 24, 1948 |
The South and the Presidency |
 |
Dec. 05, 1947 |
Military Leaders and the Presidency |
 |
Apr. 16, 1947 |
Veto Power of the President |
 |
Sep. 20, 1945 |
Succession to the Presidency |
 |
Sep. 12, 1940 |
The War Powers of the President |
 |
Feb. 11, 1938 |
Emergency Powers of the President |
 |
Jan. 06, 1938 |
The Power to Declare War |
 |
Dec. 28, 1937 |
Extension of the Veto Power |
 |
Dec. 28, 1936 |
Limitation of the President's Tenure |
 |
Mar. 12, 1935 |
The President and the Congress |
 |
Dec. 16, 1932 |
The Veto Power of the President |
 |
May 28, 1931 |
Presidential Commissions |
 |
Oct. 23, 1928 |
Presidential Appointments and the Senate |
 |
Mar. 21, 1928 |
Business Conditions in Presidential Years |
 |
Jan. 20, 1927 |
The Monroe Doctrine |
 |
Mar. 18, 1925 |
The President's Power of Appointment |
 |
Sep. 10, 1923 |
The President's Position on Patronage |
| | |
|