Richard Nixon And The Notion Of Presidential Power

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Union. As the debate over slavery escalated, the future of
the states and of the Union seemed uncertain. Furthermore, as the nation moved
rapidly through the Industrial Revolution, the future of the nation's labor
force and of its general welfare seemed uncertain. As time passed, the nation
would encounter the greatest economic depression of all time, and the challenges
would continue. Our nation would still battle the divisive issues of racism and
discrimination. Yet none of the Presidents who governed during these daring
times exploited the authority of their position in unwarranted manners. The
Nixon Administration would however, exploit its authority and attempt to justify
its actions based on the �similar' actions of Abraham Lincoln.
During the Civil War, this nation's greatest test of will and spirit,
President Lincoln felt it incumbent upon the President to assume certain
authority and responsibility not specifically granted to the Executive by the
Constitution. His ...

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people, and its future.
While Lincoln was extremely concerned with public opinion, he was not
convinced that the Presidential elections would be the ultimate check. Rather,
Lincoln asserted that the success of the actions taken by a government to
preserve its interest and peace cannot be measured by the electorate but rather
by the final outcome of the actions. Nixon's opinion, however, differed.
Richard Nixon saw the ultimate check not in the result or consequences of his
actions, but rather in the response of the electorate / popular opinion. This,
in my opinion, is the dangerous flaw which lead to Richard Nixon's decline.
Great danger lies in placing too much value on popular ...

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