The Managing of the Presidency: Applying Theory-Driven Empirical Models to the Study of White House Bureaucratic Performance

Justin S. Vaughn, Cleveland State University
José D. Villalobos, Texas A & M University - College Station

Abstract

We argue that scholars of the presidency should begin to apply their rich descriptive understanding of White House organization and personnel to questions of causality. To help guide this effort, we offer a theory-driven empirical model that explains organizational performance. Importing theory from the public management literature, we show how scholars can use the Meier-O'Toole (MO) model to explain performance outcomes and dynamics for key political and policy functions within the institutional presidency. We introduce the MO model and discuss its potential impact on the field of presidency studies.