The presidency is a highly public and political office with presidents drawing much of their support and political power from groups outside the government. The President, the Public, and the Parties examines presidential relationships with these influential groups, the largest being the American public itself. Presidents need public support to advance their legislative and political agendas.

Presidents must be able to communicate their ideas and programs effectively through appearances and speeches, yet they must also heed public opinion, measured in the modern era through polls.

Three other powerful groups exert tremendous sway on the presidency: political parties, the news media, and interest groups. As chiefs of their political parties, presidents strive to keep their party support unified while dealing with the political exigencies of the day. Presidents need news organizations to get their messages across to the public; the relationship between the president and the press is a vital yet complicated one.

Balancing the demands of organized interest groups has become an increasingly major and difficult part of the presidency.