Power of the Presidency essays

Power of the Presidency essays During the twentieth century, the power of the presidency would grow very much. This came as a result of the actions of a few men that were some of the best leaders in the history of the United States. They were men that knew what they wanted to accomplish and how they wanted to do it. Their drive to enhance the power of the presidency would become very evident during and after their terms as president of the U.S. One of the men that were instrumental in advancing the power of the presidency during the twentieth century was Mr. Theodore Roosevelt. President Roosevelt held the ideal that the Government should be the great arbiter of the conflicting economic forces in the Nation, especially between capital and labor. Roosevelt emerged spectacularly as a "trust buster" by forcing the dissolution of a great railroad combination in the Northwest. Mr. Roosevelt steered the United States more actively into world politics. He liked to quote a favorite proverb, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". His corollary to the Monroe Doctrine prevented the establishment of foreign bases in the Caribbean and arrogated the sole right of intervention in Latin America to the United States. Some of Mr. Theodore Roosevelt's most effective achievements were in conservation. He added enormously to the national forests in the West, reserved lands for public use, and fostered great irrigation projects. As President, Roosevelt saw himself a representative of all the people, including farmers, laborers, white collar workers, and businessmen. He wanted to make things better for the common man and he was successful. Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt was another president who had a lot to do with the strengthening of the presidency. He became president at the height of the depression and used his New Deal program to help the economy. Finance and banking were regulated by new laws that loosened credit and insured deposits. A series of government agencie...