Presidential Elections (1952)

different in the ground the person elevate above all different in the way they face the task confronting them but the most vigorous have built the office position of power and prestige first to shape the office was George Washington in 1789 beginning the job of uniting thirteen states into a nation the president shall be called commander-in-chief of the army and navy have powered with advise and consent of the Senate to make treaties appoint judges of the Supreme Court shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed the new president duties outlined by the founding fathers how to be translated into everyday to tale could Washington make the Constitution work history waited on this one man now to make it work details the presidential protocol had to be worked out in practice Washington's first personal appearance in the Senate was a stormy one it convinced him the president had to act independently of Congress strengthening the separation of powers washington's action was decisive enlarged affairs when Congress created the first three executive departments the president appointed Jefferson Hamilton and Knox to head them their conferences brought the cabinet system into being or against a particular body this is the first step to tyranny gentlemen gentlemen mr. Jefferson too strict and interpretation of my constitutional authority does not enable me to make this government work this government must have funds to operate can't we agree on the necessity of a whiskey tax to raise revenue mr. president where he can't deprive these people of their livelihood to strengthen the central power I regret that I must agree with Colonel Hamilton this refusal by Western farmers to pay the tax is a challenge to our new government burning down the whiskey rebellion Washington showed that the federal government was strong enough to enforce its authority Washington's decision to retire after two terms set another president his final accomplishment an effective executive a strong functioning federal government though he could still say in his farewell address the basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and alter their constitutions of government after Washington other strong president added to the power of the office among them Thomas Jefferson who feared strong government yet was wise enough to use presidential power to acquire an empire his decision to purchase the Louisiana territory from Napoleon affirmed for all time immense presidential powers in the shaping of foreign policy as the nation grew the work of the federal government and the responsibilities of a chief executive had the chief taste the common man was winning the right to vote demanding a more popular government till suddenly in the 1850s democracy faced the ordeal of secession and civil war Abraham Lincoln faced the greatest crisis in the nation's history to meet it he made the boldest use of presidential power at the moment of inauguration fort sumter was under siege Lincoln made a fateful decision he would send relief to Sumter's garrison the South gave its answer pressing ahead of a fight in Congress Lincoln wielded power vigorously he called for 75,000 voluntary enlistment ordered a blockade of the entire Confederate coast our filmed personal direction of the Armed Forces and northern papers criticizing the war effort and in defiance of the court suspended habeas corpus enemies in Congress were outraged the Constitution does not say that the president has the right to declare martial law I'd like to read this statement gentlemen if I may I think the man whom for the time the people have under the Constitution made the commander-in-chief of their army and navy bears a responsibility for making this decision it was virtually government by presidential decree but Lincoln's bold executive leadership saved the Union with peace came great national changes speedy national growth America in an age of reckless industrial expansion of colonial empire of growing power in world affairs of Teddy Roosevelt talking trust-busting wielding the big stick in foreign affairs but it sells who Woodrow Wilson to meet America's new problems most boldly for the first time since George Washington our president went to Congress in person to propose a program then drove through sweeping reform measures suddenly world-war player now a president again assumed best wartime powers taking command of every phase of national life industry labor agriculture press and public opinion a nation wholly mobilized under the president's leadership [Music] Willson captured the moral leadership of the world with his fourteen points then armistice and for the first time in history an American president stood on foreign soil fashioning a blueprint for world settlement gaining worldwide prestige for the presidency now the boom years years of national prosperity building to dizzy heights till suddenly the dream collapsed into depression March 1933 a president faced greater responsibility than any chief executive ever had in peacetime a frightened Congress rushed through sweeping legislation to combat the depression the executive branch doubled then tripled in size in 1939 a second world war broke out in the approaching crisis the American people broke with tradition to elect Roosevelt for a third term when war came the nation backed Congress grabbing the president stupendous executive powers powers far exceeding those earlier assumed by Lincoln or granted to Wilson under presidential command all the nation's production under command of the president all manpower strict controls over civilian prices and good under the commander-in-chief the hugest war machine we have ever had and the president personally engaged in the making of important military decisions dealing with our lives and negotiating the final settlement when victory in today's unquiet peace the man of the hour on Inauguration Day faces far greater responsibilities than earlier presidents the march of events has made the White House the hub of national and world affairs the man who sent to the president said as heavier duties and more power than almost any other individual on earth for he is the freely chosen leader of the American people a great nation and a good part of the world looked to him for action on a host of problems the president is chief of a vast executive establishment headed up by the ten heads of departments who sit here as his cabinet appointing and removing cabinet members and other top level officials is one of the president's most important executive tasks well this is the statement boys the president has just sent to the Senate the appointment of Jane s Bostwick or Secretary of Interior any questions the scope of his responsibilities is symbolized in the panorama of the nation's capital where massive structures house the executive agencies from the Pentagon building center of the Armed Forces to the new Department concerned with the health education and welfare of citizens from the agency devoted to the progress and prosperity of the nation's farmers to the State Department concerned with Foreign Affairs these but a few of the manifold activities carried on by more than two million federal employees their work directed from the executive wing of the White House within these solemn premises a busy core of presidential assistant and aides works night and day to keep the executive machinery running the president handles major matters of policy in cabinet meetings and in conferences with top-level people in Congress and the executive agencies how's the president mr. secretary view any statement to make sorry boys no comment hey how about the secretary anything new on the st. Lawrence waterway project sorry no comment except that I can say that the president I are in complete agreement on what action to take that's complete agreement from the President's desk come executive orders covering a wide range of federal activities the president directs that the United States Commission for the st. Lawrence waterway shall consist of five the president directs that in accordance with the powers granted him under the tariff law of 1948 schedules on hides from Brazil shall be reduced by the president directs division of information of this department be abolished and its function to be assigned to a new division to be termed the what the duties of the president are more than executives Americans look to him to provide Congress and the nation with a program of legislation the prosperity of American business where that's after the president sure but so is the welfare of Labor don't forget the farmers he's got to help us taxes that's the big issue the president's gotta cut him done and what are keeping the peace that's up to the president to while making the laws of the land is chiefly the responsibility of the people's representatives in Congress the president has enormous influence in the work of Congress a major act of the president is to deliver his State of the Union message to a joint session of both houses in this and later messages he proposes a program of legislation among the specific recommendations in his message today the president urged legislation for public school construction he said among other things this president proposals were introduced into Congress by his friends but he generally facing strong opposition the office even I am opposed taking any action on this bill until such time as this committee has given a more thorough study we cannot let the president dictate to us about the school building program any more president has a number of ways of winning support for one thing he can appeal to party royalty right I got it for you at his press conference today the president said pointedly that the school building program is one of the most vital proposals before the Congress today that's right now we urged all the members of the administration party to get the agenda that also urges his program and personal meetings with congressional leaders yes the president talked to us for a half hour at least about the school building bill he's hot about it the president can bring pressure on congressmen through his power over appointments but the president's most effective weapon is the direct appeal for public support the appropriation of federal funds for public school construction is just one of the measures we for assistance to education sign language when Congress passes a measure the president enters directly into lawmaking he can veto bills which go to him for signature but if he signs a bill or failed to veto it it becomes law to veto the president returns the bill to Congress with his objections gentlemen this is the text of the President's veto message on the river and harbors bill they say any news about the school building bill no but off the record he'll sign it when it comes to it but of course Congress can override the bezel by a two-thirds vote despite frequent clashes between President and Congress the president holds a position of powerful leadership citizens regard him as their personal spokesman dear mr. president I just want to tell you that out here we're all behind you but there's one thing citizens give him the greatest public attention the Third's from the President or and prestige of the presidency giving the strong men who hold this office increasing