Stephen Hess
Stephen Hess
Stephen H. Hessis a senior fellow emeritus in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution. He studies media, the U.S. presidency, political dynasties and the U.S. government. He first joined Brookings in 1972 and was distinguished research professor of media and public affairs at the George Washington University. He served on Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon's White House staff and as an adviser to Presidents Gerald R. Ford and Jimmy Carter...
bipartisan iraqis message sends vote white
A big, bipartisan vote sends a message to the Iraqis and the White House. It's very, very significant.
disaster large likely president promptly speak wherever
It's more likely that a president will be there -- wherever there is -- and will speak more promptly after a disaster to a very large audience,
difficult incredibly nearly six stage time
At this stage of an administration, nearly six years into it, it's incredibly difficult to get new people. Time is short. The most creative, interesting things have already been done.
behind clear wants
That's big guns, ... wants it clear that the administration is behind him.
everywhere front line
The front line is everywhere there is someone with an explosive.
bad dominating katrina month
A month from now, if Katrina is still dominating the headlines, he really is in bad shape,
adequate elections iraq issue
An adequate withdrawal by mid-year 2006 could neutralize Iraq as the overriding issue of the mid-term congressional elections.
certainly focus presidency question seem
It certainly made this presidency. There was no question that there was a new presidency that had a new agenda. ... It certainly did seem to focus him grandly and powerfully.
invited might president situation
I think the president might have defused the situation if he had invited her in instantly.
close outcome
I think the outcome is going to be pretty close to what we have now.
assuming foreign learned listening speech today
It was not a speech of surprises. Assuming other foreign ministries have been listening, I don't what they would have learned today that they already didn't know.
best bring capable creative difficult good moving outside people quite second time
It's very often a good thing in a second administration, because it's difficult to bring new people in from the outside ? time is short, all the creative things have already been done. Quite often the best you are capable of doing is moving things around.
came none robust second series shifted term
He really came into his second term with a series of robust proposals, and he's accomplished none of them. His circumstances have shifted dramatically.