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The American Government has become very complex since the
creation of the United States. Our society is now increasingly
linked to international relations and faces an array of domestic
problems. The presidency is critical in dealing with these vital
areas. However, every four or eight years, we establish a new
governing presidential administration. These new administrations
must get acquainted with existing and potential future public
issues. They must establish new political contacts with existing
domestic and foreign leaders. They typically review the former
administration's policies. One way to ensure orderly transition of
the presidency has been to have the outgoing administration meet
with the incoming administration But often this only occurs on the
transition day.
As a result this consumes resources and large amounts of time *1
(Kuch, Christopher B.). Pressing national issues typically result in
gathering the same data as the previous administration and
proceeding thru the political process again.
This article
suggests a method to reduce the burden on future presidential
administrations and provide continuity on public policies that
cannot be resolved in one administration. The focus is to
utilize former presidents who will serve on a standing committee to
give ongoing advice to future administrations. They might also
represent the nation as diplomats in foreign affairs at the request
of the setting president. These capacities is not meant to replace
or create new cabinet level positions, but rather supplement
existing leaders.
Untapped
Knowledge and Expertise
At the time of this article,
we have four former living presidents. While they have earned their
right to enjoy retirement life, some continue to be politically
active. Each has a wealth of experience leading the United States.
They have many foreign political contacts. Also, many private sector
contacts. Finally, each has special expertise on a variety of social
issues.
Most desire to continue to be involved in national
politics and contribute to our country. All former presidents are
financially successful and are not looking for a job. The former
presidents would serve on a voluntary basis. Perhaps we can
encourage them to interact with each other several times a year and
discuss, conduct research, and come to an consensus or present
different suggestions for the development of public policies. This
could initially be on a non-paid basis, but I am sure we can find
funding somewhere within the federal budget for their compensation,
say minimum wage. They could then propose national policies to the
current setting president in a confidential matter.
Structure and Meetings
Every four months the former presidents should meet at their
presidential libraries on a rotating basis. This might foster good
will between the two main political parties. They could offer to
meet the public and sign books before their council meeting. After
which they can be in contact with each other via email or phone. The
setting president should meet with the council, at the White House,
once a year. Communication can flow between the council and setting
president as necessary.
They should discuss social problems
that the setting president has directed them to research and make
suggestions concerning public policies. The general focus of the
research may be released to the media. However, individual positions
should remain confidential and not be released to the media. The
actual policy suggestions created by the council, along with
individual dissent, should only be released to the media by the
setting president.
Possible topics to be considered might be
how to increase production and exportation of American goods,
ensuring affordable health care, developing alternative
cost-efficient environmentally safe fuels, resolving social security
concerns, establishing new and reinforcing current foreign allies,
reducing crime and providing stronger national security. In
addition, special topics that the council might choose to address.
For instance, possible admittance of Puerto Rico into the Union as a
state, involuntary homelessness, Immigration and the southern
border, or encouraging Cuba to become a full democracy. *2
The presidents can utilize their contacts and previous research that
they have conducted. They individually can focus on special aspects
of the general topic matching their strengths and individual
enthusiasm to these aspects. They should attempt to discover all
sides of the issue and attempt to come to a consensus about possible
resolutions.
The key to their proposals and advice to the
setting president must be by-partisan. They must be workable and
they must solve issues and not create new problems. There must be a
spirit of greater public good over individual or political party
recognition.
Each president has certain skills and abilities
that they have been blessed with. Individually, they have ideas that
might not have been politically correct or possible during their
administrations. Each is respected in one area or another by the
public. They have a foundation, already established, to address
public issues that occur over long periods of time. One of the
things they lacked during their administrations can be overcome by
no longer spending energy on reelection campaigns. They are free to
explore contradictory suggestions and not be politically ridiculed.
Confidential
The thrust
of these meetings is confidentiality. Every setting president must
conduct confidential meetings and retain solicited information not
privy to the general public. Many suggestions are discarded because
of non feasible implementation of policies. They must be able to
seek input on controversial topics. They must way the greater public
good against individual freedoms. At the same time, they inherently
must maintain their core principles.
This proposal must have
an agreement to not disclose specific details about policy
recommendations from the council to the setting president to the
media. The council must not become a political weapon used against
the setting president during elections. They must strive to be
non-partisan, cordial, and focus on the goal—find feasible solutions
to public problems. To ensure open debate on policies within the
council and to the setting president, the specific details and
individual suggestions should remain non-public for twenty years.
Only the setting president should be the one to release details
about the council activities and suggestions to the general public.
He/she may give recognition of individual former presidents as long
as it does become favoring one president over another one.
Death of a President
Upon
the death or incapacitation of a former president, their former vice
president should become an alternative representative on the
council. Upon their death or incapacitation, their former senior
secretary of state can assume the council position. This should
ensure a continued representation on the council.
Conclusion
While some might
say this is a bold proposal—asking former rivals to come together
and work as a team towards a common goal. This is not and should not
become a debate about who or what is better similar to Ford versus
Chevy, Pepsi versus Coke, and Republican versus Democrat. It is a
proposal to utilize an existing experienced body of leaders at no
cost to the tax payer. ?t is an attempt at showing the world how a
representative democracy can function by using modern technology
(Internet) and tapping into existing human resources (former U.S.
Presidents).
As the number of public issues continue to grow
and demands for a leaner more efficient executive branch are placed
upon them, lets put our former presidents back to work. Perhaps, in
the future, serving in the White House will not be limited to four
or eight years, but become a lifetime voluntary endeavor. A classic
modern example of how former presidents can work together and help
the country in times of need is the relationship between both Bush
presidents and Mr. Clinton. Theirs should be a model for cooperation
between congress and the Whitehouse, which has been lacking in the
past seven years.
- "Presidential
Transition Agreement: Assisting the New Administration" by
Kuch, Christopher B. (USA Patriotism, February 20, 2016)
- “Encouraging Cuba to Become a Democracy.” A letter sent to
President Barrack H. Obama, August 2010.
By Christopher B. Kuch, PhD
Copyright 2016
About Author: Dr. Kuch holds a PhD, MA, and MS in criminal
justice. He has written about a variety of police issues. He is a
four year Vietnam Era Navy Veteran and served as a deputy sheriff in
Ohio for seven years. He lives in Istanbul, Turkey and is on the
adjunct faculty at Galatasaray University.
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