Former Trump chief advocates for a five-year presidency, commencing from Year Zero
Trump’s Troubled Presidential Transition
In the history of troubled presidential transitions and first years, it’s hard to ignore former President Donald Trump’s start in 2017.
First, he fired his transition director, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and then once in office, he failed to push through promised changes to Obamacare. His travel ban on suspected terrorist-supporting nations faced several court challenges.
Just as bad, some of his Cabinet and picks for top aides flopped.
But as he looks at a possible second try should he beat President Joe Biden in November, expectations are high that he will better prepare to manage the Oval Office, begin the transition sooner, and test his initial policy moves way before Inauguration Day.
High Expectations for Trump’s Second Try
“Do not underestimate Trump,” said Christopher Liddell, Trump’s former deputy chief of staff. “Certainly when you look at the way he’s running his campaign this time compared to the 2016 version, it’s a lot more professional and structured and considered. So that’s a leading indicator,” he added.
Trump’s team will also be able to tap transition efforts underway in Washington, notably the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and Liddell’s new book and road map to smooth transitions, Year Zero: The Five-Year Presidency.
Liddell is recognized as an expert administrator, considered a fine art in Washington. He was Mitt Romney’s transition chief in 2012, handled the $20 billion initial public offering for General Motors in 2010, and was the Trump point person for Biden’s transition in 2021.
What he is proposing in his book, published by the University of Virginia Press, is a transition that runs in parallel with a presidential campaign. He is calling on candidates to set up a small shop initially to consider who to hire, map out a first-year agenda, and propose the legacy that the candidate wants to leave.
“Clearly, the candidate needs to win, but that doesn’t mean that the team can’t be working away in the background on all of these ideas,” Liddell said, adding, “You can save yourself an enormous amount of time by doing what most administrations do during the first six months.”
Typically, a transition team isn’t formed until after the nominating conventions, but Liddell said that’s when the candidate should already be thinking about who to name to top jobs and what executive order and legislation he plans to push out on Day 1.
“Year Zero starts now,” he said.
Better Planning for the First Year
In his book, Liddell grades recent transitions, calling the one between former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama the “gold standard” and the Trump-Biden handoff “exceptionally challenging,” given that Trump thought Biden cheated to win.
David Marchick, who helped Biden’s transition as the director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the nonprofit organization Partnership for Public Service, said that Liddell shared several transition scenarios in 2020, including a “nightmare” plan where Trump would deny he lost in a close election.
Two days after the election, when Trump was starting to say he was cheated out of victory, Marchick said Liddell called to say the “nightmare scenario” was unfolding. Still, despite all the turmoil, Biden was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2021.
Appearing with Liddell at a University of Virginia conference on presidential transitions this week, Marchick said, “Thankfully for the country, Chris Liddell was in the White House. Because amid all the chaos, Chris was quietly working away to ensure the peaceful transfer of power, and not that many people know about that. This is a great public servant.”
For his part, Liddell will tell everyone he can that preparation for the critical first year of a presidency can’t happen soon enough.
“My contention is that it is never too early to ‘measure the drapes’ — not to become enamored with the trappings of power, but to plan for doing the work of holding presidential office. A ‘Year Zero’ approach — functionally, adding a year’s worth of planning and design work to a four-year presidential term — will allow new presidents to enact their campaign promises faster, thus delivering outcomes more effectively, in particular in their first year,” he said.
How can a proactive approach to policy moves during the transition period save time and demonstrate a candidate’s readiness to govern
Ff as the worst in history. He outlines several key areas where better planning and preparation can lead to a smoother first year in office.
First and foremost, Liddell emphasizes the importance of selecting a competent and experienced transition director. This person plays a crucial role in guiding the incoming administration, coordinating with key agencies, and ensuring a seamless transfer of power. A strong transition director can set the tone for the entire administration, and their absence can lead to chaos and mismanagement, as was seen in Trump’s transition in 2017.
Additionally, Liddell suggests that candidates should begin outlining their policy agenda and assembling their team well before the election. This allows for a more organized and efficient transition process, as key personnel can be identified and vetted in advance. It also gives ample time for the candidate to develop a first-year agenda and set clear goals and priorities for their administration.
Furthermore, Liddell advocates for a more proactive approach to initial policy moves. Rather than waiting until after inauguration day to push through executive orders and legislation, candidates should start laying the groundwork during the transition period. This not only saves time but also demonstrates a candidate’s readiness and competence to govern.
Lastly, Liddell emphasizes the importance of communication and coordination with Congress. Building relationships and garnering support from lawmakers early on can greatly facilitate the passage of key legislation and prevent unnecessary delays and obstruction.
Learning from Past Mistakes
While Trump’s troubled transition in 2017 serves as a cautionary tale, it also provides valuable lessons for future presidential candidates. By analyzing the shortcomings and failures of his first year in office, Trump and his team have the opportunity to better prepare for a potential second try.
With the guidance of experienced administrators like Christopher Liddell and the availability of established transition efforts, such as the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, Trump has the resources at his disposal to ensure a more successful transition and first year in office. By starting the transition process earlier, better planning his policy moves, and surrounding himself with competent and qualified individuals, Trump can set himself up for a more effective and productive presidency.
Ultimately, the success of Trump’s second try will depend on his ability to learn from past mistakes and adapt his approach. As expectations remain high for his potential return to the Oval Office, it is crucial that he takes heed of these lessons and approaches the transition process with the professionalism, structure, and consideration it requires.
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