The Changing Role of the President

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1 George Washington President # 1 Years in Office Planter Surveyor Delegate Commanding General - Continental Army Salary (Yearly) $25,000 Adopted the title of Mr. President Created the institution of a Presidential Cabinet. (Originally 4 Departments - State, Treasury, War and Attorney General) Established the role of Chief Legislator by bringing suggested legislation to Congress such as the Judiciary Act of 1789 Established the role of Chief Diplomat by negotiating treaties especially those created to remain neutral to European conflicts Established the role of Commander in Chief when he personally led troops to deal with the Whiskey Rebellion Supported and developed fiscal initiatives to control the national debt Established the required address to Congress as a speech to Congress instead of a letter Established the schedule of a president by conducting business during the morning to early evening and leaving the late afternoon and evenings for social gatherings and meetings with the public Established the tradition of a Farewell Address Chose to leave office after serving 2 terms, a precedent followed until Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times to office SAISD Social Studies Department Page 1

2 Ronald Reagan President # 40 Years in Office Actor Salary (Yearly) $200,000 Decreased the role of the federal government: Called for cuts in income tax (25% reduction) Cut federal spending on Great Society programs (Entitlement programs under Johnson) Cut federal spending on educational programs Cut federal spending on food stamp programs Increased federal spending on the military Increased the pressure on the Soviet Union (Peace Through Strength) SAISD Social Studies Department Page 2

3 Woodrow Wilson President # 28 Years in Office Teacher Salary (Yearly) $75,000 Introduced and persuaded Congress to pass Progressive legislation including: Federal Reserve Act Federal Trade Commission Act Clayton Anti-Trust Act Federal Income Tax (Amendment) limitations on Child Labor 8 hour workday for railroad workers During World War I: Pushed through legislation to limit/suspend Constitutional rights (Espionage Act of 1917 / Sedition Act of 1918) Wrote The Fourteen Points to outline what should happen after the war had ended in order to avoid further conflict Set the precedent of the President being a leader in global politics SAISD Social Studies Department Page 3

4 The Changes in the Role of the President Franklin D. Roosevelt President # 32 Years in Office Asst. Secretary of the Navy Salary (Yearly) $75,000 Driving force behind the economic recovery during the Great Depression (New Deal) Built the perception that the federal government is the safety net to protect the people who need assistance through the development of programs such as Social Security and other entitlement programs With the addition of new programs, the federal government expanded its power World War II placed the United States firmly on the world stage SAISD Social Studies Department Page 4

5 Theodore Roosevelt President # 26 Years in Office Author Asst. Secretary of the Navy Salary (Yearly) $50,000 Developed the role of the President being the Steward of the United States. (In Roosevelt s view, the President is the caretaker of everyone in the United States) Pushed for the preservation of the natural environment of the United States Pushed for trust-busting legislation to break down large monopolies and trusts Led the charge for the Progressive Movement Extended the Monroe Doctrine (Roosevelt Corollary) Extended the international holding of the United States through the construction of the Panama Canal Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War SAISD Social Studies Department Page 5

6 Abraham Lincoln President # 16 Years in Office U.S. Representative Salary (Yearly) $25,000 Used emergency powers during the Civil War including: established a naval blockage without the approval of Congress borrowed money for the war effort without the approval of Congress declared martial law in areas of rebellion ended slavery in areas of rebellion suspended habeas corpus placed some vocal critics in military prison without a trial Called state militias into federal service as Commander in Chief Rotated through Generals during the Civil War as Commander in Chief SAISD Social Studies Department Page 6

7 Andrew Jackson President # 7 Years in Office Planter General Salary (Yearly) $25,000 Promoted the power of the people over the power of the wealthy Ended the party caucus system (simple meeting of a few) to a convention nomination system for determining party leaders SAISD Social Studies Department Page 7

8 Thomas Jefferson President # 3 Years in Office Planter Diplomat Author of the Declaration of Independence Salary (Yearly) $25,000 Nurtured the concept of party politics in the United States to bridge the gap between the Executive and Legislative branches leading to establishing the role of Political Party Leader. Extended the power of the President through negotiating the Louisiana Purchase with France, doubling the size of the United States. (Loose interpretation of the powers granted by the Constitution) Jefferson referred to these as inherit powers. SAISD Social Studies Department Page 8