May 29, 1952 — The Spokesman-Review (Letter)
The Mossadegh Project | April 25, 2019 |
Letter to the editor of a Spokane, Washington newspaper during the final year of Truman’s presidency.
• United States media archive
Congress Is Over the President
I think it is long since time for the American people to understand just how much authority the President of the United States has in this great country of ours. Perhaps not near as much as the most of us think.
As citizens we own the government. So we elect a congress to govern us. And then—through electors—a President is also elected. Then he—with the approval of the senate—appoints his cabinet. And we are all set for doing business.
The congress is over the President. And the President is over the cabinet, and, of course, over the other officers that he appoints—with the approval of congress.
The President can—and should—boss his cabinet officers but certainly not the congress. And the Congress should so conduct its affairs that all matters of every kind would be in perfect order before being placed for signature upon the President’s desk. And then no back talk or wrangling should occur between the legislative and the executive branches.
The majority and minority lenders should maintain discipline in the executive branch. And between the two branches a very rigid form of courtesy should exist.
And let us always bear in mend that we are living in a republic—and certainly not a democracy.
Related links:
Bossism | The Wilmington Morning Star, August 1, 1952
Some Resolutions | The Salt Lake Tribune (January 6, 1952 letter)
Truman’s Suppression of Dissent Chastised (May 17, 1951 letter)
MOSSADEGH t-shirts — “If I sit silently, I have sinned”