The presidential expectations gap : public attitudes concerning the presidency / Richard Waterman, Carol L. Silva, and Hank Jenkins-Smith.

"For decades, public expectations of U.S. presidents have become increasingly excessive and unreasonable. Despite much anecdotal evidence, few scholars have attempted to test the expectations gap thesis empirically. This is the first systematic study to prove the existence of the expectations gap and to identify the factors that contribute to the public's disappointment in a given president. Using data from five original surveys, the authors confirm that the expectations gap is manifest in public opinion. It leads to lower approval ratings, lowers the chance that a president will be reelected, and even contributes to the success of the political party that does not hold the White House in congressional midterm elections. This study provides important insights not only on the American presidency and public opinion, but also on citizens' trust in government"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Print version record.

The Role of Public Expectations -- Public Expectations in a Historical Perspective -- Comparing Incumbent and Retrospective Evaluations of Presidential Performance -- Analyzing Public Expectations -- Testing the Expectations Gap Thesis: The Presidency of Bill Clinton -- The Economy, Ethical Standards, and Partisanship -- Presidential Scandal and the Expectations Gap: "Why Did Clinton Survive the Impeachment Crisis? -- George W. Bush: War and the Economy -- Barack Obama: The Candidate/Incumbent Expectations Gap -- Micro and Macro-Level Models of the Expectations Gap -- The Expectations Gap in a Broader Theoretical Context.

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