And despite promising "everything I've got," President Obama either did not know how, or chose not, to use the persuasive powers of the presidency, à la Lyndon Baines Johnson, to force them to act.11
In Bill Press's book "Buyer's Remorse: How Obama Let Progressives Down," the author critiques President Obama for failing to leverage the full influence of his presidential role, especially in situations that required strong persuasion. Unlike previous leaders such as Lyndon B. Johnson, who effectively used their authority to promote significant change, Obama is portrayed as either unaware of the necessary tactics or unwilling to adopt them when it mattered most. This lack of assertiveness has led to disappointment among progressives who were hopeful for substantial reforms. Press argues that despite Obama's promises to exert his full efforts, the results did not align with the expectations of those who supported him, indicating a missed opportunity to drive meaningful policy changes during his administration.
