The Presidency in the Early 20th Century

Federalist 8:  "It is of the nature of war to increase the executive at the expense of the legislative authority."

Tocqueville, Democracy in America: "If the Union’s existence were constantly menaced, and if its great interests were continually interwoven with those of other powerful nations, one would see the prestige of the executive growing, because of what was expected from it and of what it did."

Darth Sidious: "We stand on the threshold of a new beginning. In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society which I assure you, will last for ten thousand years. An empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body, and a sovereign ruler chosen for life... an empire ruled by the majority... ruled by a new constitution..."

THREE VIEWS OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER

Wilson and presidential power in wartime (Milkis 254-255);

• American Protective League
• Committee on Public Information
• Espionage Act of 1917
• Sedition Act of 1918
• The Palmer Raids

Woodrow Wilson's stroke.

From Wilson's History of the American People, vol. 3.

Intertitles from The Birth of a Nation

The Harding letters and a recent news story about them

The underrated Calvin Coolidge made the first presidential speech on sound film:



Do you think Hoover was a great media president?