The Politics of White House Firings

When presidential popularity sags, the predictable calls begin: Off with their heads! The heads, of course, belong to key administrators and Cabinet officials who are perceived to have contributed to whatever woes are besetting the president. …

What effect do firings have on public opinion? Does it help a president’s job approval when he shakes up his team? Is there a pattern in history that can be detected, at least since polling began?

Turns out, there are several trends worth noting. I examined the most prominent firings from Harry Truman to Barack Obama and tried to see what, if any, effect showed up in subsequent Gallup surveys. CONT.

Larry J. Sabato (UVA), Politico Magazine

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