Here’s a clear outline of the contrasting views of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft on presidential power:
1. Theodore Roosevelt – The "Stewardship Theory"
Philosophy: Roosevelt believed the president should act as a "steward of the people" — using all powers not explicitly forbidden by the Constitution to serve the public good.
Key Principle: If the Constitution doesn’t prohibit it, the president can do it.
View of Executive Power:
- Broad, energetic, and proactive.
- The president is the moral and political leader of the nation.
- Executive power should expand to meet the needs of a changing society.
Examples:
- Used executive orders and actions aggressively to regulate business, conserve natural resources, and mediate labor disputes.
- Justified his actions as serving the “public welfare.”
2. William Howard Taft – The "Legalistic" or "Constitutional" View
Philosophy: Taft held a strict constructionist or limited view of presidential power.
Key Principle: The president can only do what the Constitution or Congress explicitly authorizes.
View of Executive Power:
- Restricted to powers granted by law.
- The president is an administrator, not a reformer or crusader.
-Feared that broad interpretations of power could lead to executive overreach.
Examples:
- Avoided unilateral action, preferring to work through Congress and the courts.
- Criticized Roosevelt’s activist presidency as unconstitutional.
