2016-2017 FELLOWS REVIEW

Foreword

I am consistently amazed by the intelligence, commitment, and creativity of the talented students who participate in our Fellows Program each academic year. Established in 1970, the Fellows Program attracts some of the nation’s brightest minds and fosters their interest in public service. Students attend two leadership conferences in Washington, D.C. in the fall and spring where they engage with distinguished scholars, government officials, and policy experts. This program encourages Fellows to examine some of today’s most pressing challenges and then explore innovative solutions. The research papers presented in the succeeding pages represent a year of dedication put forth by our fellows.

This review includes twenty case studies covering a range of topics from presidential elections to national security threats. The Center annually recognizes four fellows for their exceptional research. The 2016-2017 awardees were Ms. Jill Steinman (Harvard University), Mr. Timothy Becker (U.S. Military Academy at West Point), Ms. Rachel Haskins (Gettysburg College), and Ms. Rachel Ball-Jones (University of Toronto). In her paper titled, “Trump Compared to the Other Candidates in the Fight for the 2016 Republican Nomination,” Ms. Steinman evaluated Trump’s policy proposals against his competitors in the primary election. Mr. Becker examined how presidents utilize their power in periods of heightened political polarization in his paper, “The Effects of Hyper-Polarization on Presidential Decision Making.” Ms. Haskins explored the legacies of Obama’s three National Security Advisors in her paper entitled, “President Obama’s National Security Council: Does the National Security Advisor Make the Difference?” Finally, Ms. Ball-Jones analyzed targeted sanctions against terrorist organizations throughout the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations in a paper entitled, “Counterterrorism in the 21st Century: An Analysis of Targeted Sanctions between 1994 and 2016.”

In the pages that follow, these fellows exhibit their passion and expertise across a breadth of topics. Whether you deepen your knowledge on a certain issue, explore a unique perspective, or simply learn something new, I hope that you enjoy the 2016-2017 Fellows Review as much as I do.

Glenn C. Nye III

President & CEO

Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress