Presidential Privilege Quotes
In a precursor to the 1948 unexpected 1948 Dewey defeat for the presidency, Charles Evans Hughes was favored to defeat Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Based on early returns in the East, New York Times and other newspapers had conceded the election to Hughes in their evening editions. Hughes retired early in his hotel. After midnight, a New York reporter called his suite. Hughes' son answered.
Before Theodore Roosevelt, American Presidential Candidates had to pretend that they did not seek the presidency and remain passive. However Roosevelt changed that norm and the primary elections, taking the nomination away from a few party leaders, further required Presidential aspirants to campaign. The principle Lomdes articulated was that if called upon, one was obligated to serve, but should not overtly seek the position and wait to be called by the people.
There have been many power struggles between the Legislative and Executive branches, but one of the more humorous began on August 27, 1906. President Theodore Roosevelt directed the Public Printer to observe a new orthographic convention designed to simplify the spelling of English. A furor broke out as Congress fought against such a radical departure The President was defeated and so was "simplified spelling."
The President had authorized the NSA to spy Americans who might have been suspected of being themselves or being in contact with terrorists without obtaining permission of a court including the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) special court that had been established for these cases. Instead the administration argues that it was inherent in the powers of the Presidency in time of war.
Truman had no rich supporters and the radio networks, like most businesses, supported his Republican opponent, Thomas E. Dewey. They charged high rates for a campaign speech. Truman could not afford to pay for the radio speech which convinced most that he could not possibly win.
