The Staffing of Presidential Assistants: Their Effect on Presidential Success in the House of Representatives

This paper examines the Congressional success of United States Presidents based on the reported Congressional Quarterly Presidential Box Scores. Their individual success is examined as an effect of the senior staff member a President chooses and whether they are chosen from the campaign, personal experience, or previous administrations. It is important for a President to consider the origins of these staffers as these Assistants to the President act as the body of the President’s administration. The econometric analysis presented reveals several interesting results. First, the predominance of a President to choose staff members from his campaign shows no significant impact on his Congressional relations and success. Second, staff members chosen from personal experience have a negatively correlated hindrance on success. Finally, those members chosen for their experience in previous administrations has a positive impact on Presidential success. This research is used to supplement the existing, qualitative research on the subject through regression analysis