As Congress wrangles over the federal budget, the drama centers around two main characters: President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner. Forced to compromise against a backdrop of coalitions that refuse to bend, their relationship defines the political moment. Steven Smith, professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis, joins us to add some historical perspective and look at other notable president/speaker relationships, from President Clinton and Newt Gingrich to Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neil.
The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.