PRESIDENT-CENTERED AND PRESIDENCY-CENTERED EXPLANATIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL PUBLIC ACTIVITY

This article assesses the president's public activities. It tests hypo theses derived from an explanation that suggests that presidential cho ice depends upon the nature of presidents-a ''president-centered'' exp laination. It also tests hypotheses derived from the opposing account, that is, that presidential behavior reflects the president's institut ional responsibilities and powers-a ''presidency-centered'' explanatio n. The latter includes the president's clerkship of official responsib ilities, bargaining conditions, and the tenure of presidents. Technolo gical innovations also affect presidential activity. The empirical eva luation of these explanations includes tests for three kinds of presid ent-centered explanations, emphasizing individual presidents, Barber's presidential styles, and the recent interest in Washington outsiders. The empirical evidence suggests an important role for the presidency- centered explanation and the control for technology. The president-cen tered models, however, provide additional insight into presidential ac tivities.