Conclusion

Abstract

At the end of chapters three and four, I discussed the results of the process-tracing analysis within each presidential administration. This concluding chapter begins with a summary discussion of those results, followed by a between-administration comparison of my empirical observations. I then consider the significance of these empirical results in the context of the theoretical, conceptual, and methodological issues discussed in chapters one and two. In the next section, I discuss potential explanations for the negative results obtained in particular cases and decision periods. In section VI, I propose a revised model that may someday serve as the foundation for a process-oriented theory of presidential risk behavior, and suggest a research agenda for exploring the utility of the revised model. Finally, in section VII, I discuss the implications of the results of this project and certain restrictions on the scope of its findings.