Assumptions tell the chief executive things about what the world is like outside of the White House. Also, they aide the president in comprehending the causes of problems and the effect of solutions. Assumptions are the biggest gray area in the policy stream because they try to help the president predict the future, understand the present, and analyze the past. This usually gets presidents in trouble because they often see the world as they want it to be and not as it really is. Since this is the case presidents need to be very careful in picking the right assumption when making a decision as the role of assumption is increasing in policy making.
Players is the next current that flows with all the others in the policy stream.
Very many people engage almost daily in the presidents policy making. The presidents advisers all bring there own different expertise when dealing with policy. Depending on how close they are and how much the president trusts them determines if they will influence policy. For example, Light states that Shultz was a powerful force in persuading Reagan to take a pessimistic budget forecast in 1983, as well making deeper defense cuts. Along with individuals that compete to influence the president their are four offices that fight for the presidents attention.