The NetworkThe Clinton and Bush Years…

Project Overview

• This project proposes creating a visualization of the network of presidential cabinet members and advisors for the Clinton and G. W. Bush administrations.

Target Audience

• Journalists, researchers, and the general public

• Complex connections exist between politicians, corporations, and other factors

• Hard to demonstrate a web of influence or the “revolving door” between government and industry using text

• Visualization tools offer a means for clearly demonstrating these connections to people uninterested in combing through detailed data

Typical Display of Govt/Corp Connections

Cabinet Data

• For our proof of concept, it was easier to compile data ourselves than find a source

• Focused Clinton and G.W. Bush cabinets• For each cabinet member:

• Biographical (date and state of birth)• Educational (all schools attended or affiliated

with)• Work histories (public & private)• Political (party affiliation)

Comparable Visualizations

• TheyRule.net• State-Machine.net• Visual Complexity: The Political

Blogosphere and the 2004 Election

They Rule

• Relationships of the US ruling class focusing on the boards of some of the most powerful U.S. companies, which share many of the same directors. http://www.theyrule.net/2004/tr2.php

State Machine

• Members of senate and sources of campaign funding. http://www.state-machine.org

The Blogosphere

• The degree of interaction between liberal and conservative blogs in the 2004 election

Design Inspiration

• Disc visualizations:• J.P. 232 in C.S.O. Blue

• Multidimensional Views:• Critical Paths & Trajectories in Networks• Vizster

• What Not Do:• Power Law Graph

Network Nodes and Edges

Multi-dimensionality

Shapes

Trying to Avoid…

Our Design

• Demo out of PPT . . .

Future Direction

• Scalability – adding more cabinets• Search• Add more dimensions & relationships:

• Other members of administration• Spouses• Campaign contributions• Number of indictments

Thanks!