Washington Week With Gwen Ifill And National Journal

PBS' longest-running public affairs series features Washington's top journalists analyzing the week's top news stories and their effect on the lives of all Americans. Gwen Ifill hosts.

"Washington Week" is proud to unveil its new website. Among the new features of Washington Week On Line, you can see a weekly blog called Gwen's Take with insight and analysis from moderator Gwen Ifill; an expanded On The Radar section with daily updates from our panelists on the stories they're covering; The Vault which features clips from our library of broadcasts spanning 40 years; our Watch the Show and "Webcast EXTRA" video featuring each week's episodes; and a link to stories from our partners at National Journal.

Topics for May 25, 2012:

Every U.S. president since the beginning has brought a rich and diverse background to the White House. Some were life-long politicians; others were career military officers, entrepreneurs and even a former actor. The one common experience each of them has shared is the evolution from candidate to commander in chief. Afterward, most of them returned to civilian life.

While each president surrounds himself with a hand-picked circle of advisers, cabinet members and staff, the question remains -- can anyone thoroughly prepare for the complex job of president of the United States?

Maybe not, but in recent years presidents have sought counsel and found support from a very exclusive group – their predecessors.

Weeks before his inauguration, then President-elect Barack Obama met with President George W. Bush and three former presidents at the White House. President Bill Clinton forged a close relationship with former President Richard Nixon over foreign policy. And since leaving office, George H.W. Bush has worked in tandem on a number of humanitarian efforts with the man who kept him from a second-term – Bill Clinton.

We examine the unique bipartisan solidarity current and former presidents share with the reporters who cover the White House:

Michael Duffy of TIME Magazine and co-author of "The Presidents Club"

Peter Baker of The New York Times

John Harris of POLITICO

Christi Parsons of Tribune News

And with polls showing the race tightening between President Obama and Mitt Romney, both campaigns are stepping up efforts to secure the Hispanic vote. Could 2012 be the year demographics catch up with politics? Find out in Gwen's Take.

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