# How much intelligence does an incumbent President have to share with a President-Elect? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 1, 2016, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524 "2016-12-01T09:48:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/21 "2016-12-01T15:41:37Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > In full from Wikipedia: > The Office of the President-Elect is a title first used by Barack Obama for the body coordinating his transition activities of the President-elect of the United States. > > The office is not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, nor is it a statutory office of the federal government;[1] however, under the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (P.L. 88-277),[2] amended by the Presidential Transitions Effectiveness Act of 1998 (P.L. 100-398),[3] the Presidential Transition Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-293),[4][5] and the Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-283)[6] the President-Elect is entitled to request and receive certain privileges from the General Services Administration as he or she prepares to assume office. On November 8, 2016, Donald J. Trump was elected President-Elect and will be the second president-elect to use the office title for presidential transition.[7] So was a President-Elect simply called a Presidential candidate? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/22 "2016-12-01T15:42:36Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Is this wrong? > > [https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:KC50JxPTQiUJ:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office\_of\_the\_President-Elect+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us](https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:KC50JxPTQiUJ:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_President-Elect+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us) > > The Office of the President-Elect is a title first used by Barack Obama for the body coordinating his transition activities of the President-elect of the United States. This a a claim that he named an OFFICE that, not that he was the first individual to be called that. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/23 "2016-12-01T15:52:07Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > So was a President-Elect simply called a Presidential candidate? :smack: No, a person who is running for the presidency is a presidential candidate. A presidential candidate becomes the President Elect after s/he becomes the apparent winner on Election Day. It seems to have become custom for the President Elect to establish an Office of the President Elect to manage transition issues. The person who is the apparent winner on Election Day remains President Elect until January 20th, until they are sworn in and become President of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/24 "2016-12-01T15:53:17Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > This a a claim that he named an OFFICE that, not that he was the first individual to be called that. Ok. My misunderstanding. Clear now. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/25 "2016-12-01T15:58:49Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > I’m not sure whether Obama and Trump communicate much, There are numerous news reports that they have had regular discussions since the election. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/26 "2016-12-01T16:17:16Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > There are numerous news reports that they have had regular discussions since the election. The day after the election Obama vowed to do everything he could to make the transition smooth and I have heard nothing that makes me think that isn’t exactly what is going on. Obama seems genuinely grateful that Bush did the same for him. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/27 "2016-12-01T16:23:51Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The usual stuff. The alien bodies kept at Area 51, the reasons we’re spreading chemtrail poisons in the air, the REAL Kennedy assassins, etc… I thought we were talking about things Obama is telling Trump, not vice versa. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/28 "2016-12-01T16:41:37Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Sorry. I thought the electoral vote makes him legally President. The inauguration I thought is just a formal swearing-in of the President. Can Trump not call himself President Trump once the Elector College has elected him President? > [@John\_Mace](#): > > He can call himself anything he wants, but he isn’t president until he takes the oath of office. He cannot preform any duties of the actual president until then. The electors cast their ballots in December. The ballots are sealed and delivered to Congress. The new Congress during the first week in January unseals the ballots, counts them and officially announce the results. Barring a tie vote (or the possibility of an insufficient number of electoral votes), Congress then certifies the ballots. At that point, we will all know the winner. On inauguration day the results of the electoral vote are made formal by the new president taking the oath of office. While the government may share whatever information may be necessary for the incoming president to know, the incoming president has no ability to act upon any of the information presented. Only after the oath is taken does the actual transfer of power occur, and the ability to exercise that power, become available. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/29 "2016-12-02T08:36:34Z")
I certainly wish Obama would share all of his intelligence with Trump but regrettably, Obama can only provide and offer information. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/30 "2016-12-02T09:46:32Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > The electors cast their ballots in December. The ballots are sealed and delivered to Congress. The new Congress during the first week in January unseals the ballots, counts them and officially announce the results. Barring a tie vote (or the possibility of an insufficient number of electoral votes), Congress then certifies the ballots. At that point, we will all know the winner. On inauguration day the results of the electoral vote are made formal by the new president taking the oath of office. > > While the government may share whatever information may be necessary for the incoming president to know, the incoming president has no ability to act upon any of the information presented. Only after the oath is taken does the actual transfer of power occur, and the ability to exercise that power, become available. Full Speech: President Elect Trump Carrier Plant I’m curious as to how Trump can save 1000 jobs (at least that is the way the press is interpreting it) if he cannot implement policy. Is it simply a case of promising Carrier an incentive/threat once he gets into office or has he actually implemented a measure to help save 1000 jobs at Carrier? ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/31 "2016-12-02T09:52:46Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > I’m curious as to how Trump can save 1000 jobs (at least that is the way the press is interpreting it) if he cannot implement policy. Is it simply a case of promising Carrier an incentive/threat once he gets into office . . Either that, or it’s an outright fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/32 "2016-12-02T10:01:45Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > Either that, or it’s an outright fantasy. it seems Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana had more to do with it [http://hotair.com/archives/2016/11/30/how-did-trump-pence-rescue-1000-jobs-at-carrier/](http://hotair.com/archives/2016/11/30/how-did-trump-pence-rescue-1000-jobs-at-carrier/) "The incentives came through Mike Pence, who is still governor of Indiana and able to cut the kind of deals that Tankersley puts at the near end of the spectrum: While terms of the deal are not yet clear, the sources indicated there were new incentives on offer from the state of Indiana, where Pence is governor, that helped clear a path for the agreement. However, the threat of action at the far end of the spectrum certainly caught the attention of executives at United Technology, too: While UTX was seeking the savings that would come from moving some production to Mexico, people familiar with the situation indicated that the savings were not worth incurring the wrath of the incoming administration, including the potential threat to the significant business that UTX currently conducts with the U.S. government, largely in the form of orders for jet engines and other defense-related equipment. Needless to say, that kind of government pressure on the private sector will not have free-market conservatives cheering. If CNBC has this correct, it’s the kind of cronyist, insider-dealing economics that has tilted the field away from start-ups and small businesses, and that has created an overabundance of consolidation in major industries (especially in defense contracting)." ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/33 "2016-12-02T10:03:39Z")
> **[The huge unanswered questions about Trump’s deal to save Indiana jobs](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/11/30/the-huge-unanswered-questions-about-trumps-deal-to-save-indiana-jobs/?utm_term=.dda0b1ec8481)** > > Donald Trump hasn't made clear crucial details about his deal to save 1,000 jobs in Indiana. One possibility is, Trump won Carrier over with smooth talk and broad policy promises. This implies a future strategy that mixes the bully pulpit with broad-based policy changes meant to boost investment. He’s going to cut taxes, he’s going to (vaguely) reduce regulation, life will be better, this will be a huge PR win for the company. Carrier changes course, he stops criticizing them, deal made. You could see that scenario repeating a lot. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/34 "2016-12-02T10:14:48Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Dereknocue67](#): > > I certainly wish Obama would share all of his intelligence with Trump but regrettably, Obama can only provide and offer information. Let’s keep the political jabs out of GQ please. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/35 "2016-12-02T16:23:25Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/11/30/the-huge-unanswered-questions-about-trumps-deal-to-save-indiana-jobs/?utm\_term=.dda0b1ec8481](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/11/30/the-huge-unanswered-questions-about-trumps-deal-to-save-indiana-jobs/?utm_term=.dda0b1ec8481) > > One possibility is, Trump won Carrier over with smooth talk and broad policy promises. This implies a future strategy that mixes the bully pulpit with broad-based policy changes meant to boost investment. He’s going to cut taxes, he’s going to (vaguely) reduce regulation, life will be better, this will be a huge PR win for the company. Carrier changes course, he stops criticizing them, deal made. You could see that scenario repeating a lot. Go back and read your own cite in post #32. Yes, undoubtedly Trump put a lot of pressure on Carrier. But the deal that made them keep jobs - less than half, it should be noted - was a state-applied bribe of tax credits. Every state has done this to keep businesses from leaving (or to attract new businesses) for decades. It is not new policy. It is also contrary to the Trump’s statements on the consequences if businesses leave the country. A bribe is not a consequence. It certainly is excellent political theater. It will be hard to replicate, however. The use of tax credits and other incentives for businesses has been going on so long that backlash has already started in many states. Many people feel that the return has become less than the payments are worth. It may be that the return with Carrier in Indiana is justified. But the process used here is very old news. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/36 "2016-12-02T17:25:19Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > It is also contrary to the Trump’s statements on the consequences if businesses leave the country. I don’t see it as being contrary. He is in no position to put in place any consequences right now. Time will tell if he follows through with that promise, what he will actually be able to do, and how effective it will be. As President-elect he has a bit of a bully pulpit and a governor of Indiana who can offer tax breaks. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524/37 "2016-12-02T18:17:15Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t see it as being contrary. He is in no position to put in place any consequences right now. Time will tell if he follows through with that promise, what he will actually be able to do, and how effective it will be. As President-elect he has a bit of a bully pulpit and\* a governor of Indiana who can offer tax breaks\*. Its added Yes, this is the interesting point. The whole world is coming to now or certainly might be after Jan 20 to Trump (and Pence, down the line) hat in hand to a greater or lesser extent, or remembering their past pre-election experiences with those people. But even now, shit just got real for the citizens of Indiana or outside private or public interests for whom a lot of plans for the next few months must be considered differently than before the election. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-intelligence-does-an-incumbent-president-have-to-share-with-a-president-elect/773524.md?page=1)