The third factor Neustadt claims is tied to presidential punch is his public prestige. This is of course is the view of the people. Gallup polls, taxi drivers, columnists, friends, news reports, and other sources make up the body of information Washington turns to gauge public affection for the President. Depending on the strength of that report, Washingtonians may alter their support for a President's desires. Yet, Neustadt does make reservations with this claim.
Public prestige is usually a background factor.
It may not decide the outcome in a given case but can affect the likelihoods in every case and therefore is strategically important to his power. In the second half of the book, Neustadt describes the grounds on which he appraises the performance of a president. I stress evolving because almost no President has followed his initial resolve. Yet, there should be some thread of consistency in a President's policies that demonstrates his basic ideals. According to Neustadt, such was the case with John Fitzgerald Kennedy.