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Presidents' Day Activity
A Look at Historical Roles of the President: Through Video
Article II of the Constitution outlines the President's qualifications, powers and duties. Using clips from C-SPAN's American Presidents series, see how past Chief Executives have interpreted their roles and obligations in various instances.

Roles Today
A Look at Historical Roles: Video Letters
American Presidents Clip Lists
Presidents' Day 2003
Programming Schedule

Party Leader

Harry S. Truman and the Democrats Win the 1948 Election
The Democratic split over the issue of civil rights and other reform measures nearly cost Truman's election in his own right. Nevertheless, Truman's "whistle-stop" campaign prevailed. Despite a splintered party, the Democrats carried the presidency as well as Congress. The victory was both a political success for Truman's party, as well as a personal vindication.

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Chief Executive

Andrew Jackson Expands Presidential Power and Enforces Federal Law
Andrew Jackson "redefined the Presidency" through firm leadership and vigorous use of the veto. While he had sympathies for states' rights, he maintained the supremacy of federal power. This was evident in his 1832 proclamation to the South Carolina legislature that voted to nullify the tariff. A compromise averted hostilities but not before Jackson made it known that he would use force (if necessary) in order to preserve the Union.

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Theodore Roosevelt Becomes a "Trust Buster"
The post-Civil War era saw unprecedented industrial progress led by business titans who maneuvered against competition. The 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act attempted to curb monopolies, but big business found ways to circumvent the statute. Theodore Roosevelt was no opponent of business, but he did rail against misconduct by "bad trusts." In l902, he directed the attorney general to file suit against a giant holding company, the Northern Securities Corporation. The success of this suit prompted the government to dismantle other monopolies.

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Chief of State

Theodore Roosevelt Assumes Office
In l901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest man to become chief executive when President William McKinley was assassinated in New York. Mindful of the tragedy that elevated him to the White House, Roosevelt took great care to choose an "appropriate place" for the ceremony. Subsequent presidents would also demonstrate leadership and sensitivity when their inaugurations came prematurely.

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Commander-in-Chief

Abraham Lincoln Suspends the Writ of Habeas Corpus
Lincoln's concern over the threat posed by southern sympathizers and Peace Democrats living in the north prompted an order to withhold protections against unjust or arbitrary imprisonment. Opponents charged that the power to suspend the writ of habeas corpus was not within the power of the president, but was a congressional responsibility exercised only "in times of invasion or rebellion." Congress quickly ratified the proclamation and thousands of "disloyal" citizens faced punishment under "military authority."

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Harry S. Truman Fires Douglas MacArthur
On April 11, l951, Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of his command of the UN operations in Korea. Mac Arthur's repeated denunciations of Truman's limited war policy and his public call for the bombing of Communist China, prompted the General's dismissal. The decision was initially unpopular, but consistent with the civilian control of the military as designated in the Constitution.

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Chief Diplomat

Harry Truman Attends the Potsdam Conference
From July 17-August 2, l945, Truman met with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and British leader Winston Churchill (later replaced by Clement Atlee) to discuss the terms of postwar policies. While in Germany, Truman also learned of the successful testing of the atomic bomb which later resulted in an ultimatum to Japan for her unconditional surrender. (See presidential letter)

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Woodrow Wilson Promotes His Plan for Peace
Even before the Great War's end, President Wilson crafted the Fourteen Points, an outline for peace which he presented to Congress and then to the international community. The Allies compromised some of his proposals at the Peace Conference and the Senate stalled on Wilson's crowning creation, the League of Nations. Wilson's campaign, taken directly to the people, did not sway opponents in the Senate and the treaty failed ratification.

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Chief Legislator

Woodrow Wilson Supports the Income Tax
Shortly after his inauguration, Woodrow Wilson personally addressed Congress to promote his legislative agenda. Among his proposals was a tariff reduction designed to energize business competition. To make up for lost revenue, Wilson recommended a provision for a slightly graduated income tax authorized by the recently ratified Sixteenth Amendment. Wilson rallied a Democratic Congress to pass the Underwood Tariff Act (l913) and other reforms as part of his progressive domestic policy.

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3 Branches of Government

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