The Rhetorical Post-presidency: Former Presidents as Elite Cue Givers

Abstract

Former presidents are not resigned to quiet anonymity but instead can remain prominent political actors long after exiting the White House. From Jimmy Carter's personal diplomacy to Donald Trump's caustic social media posts, ex-presidents continue to exercise considerable political power despite lacking any official role or governing authority. We argue that this continued post-presidential influence is an outgrowth of the informal powers of the presidency. A president's rhetorical prowess and ability to command national attention do not dissipate upon exiting office but instead form the basis for post-presidential influence. To test this theory, we conducted two survey experiments of former presidents as elite cue givers. We found that although effects are not uniform, statements attributed to former presidents can substantively alter the policy preferences of recipients. However, these effects appear to be highly individualistic and largely tied to copartisan recipients.