Monday, May 06, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor
Where are the Republican Researchers?

JANUARY 15, 2006 --

"The President, who is Commander in Chief and who represents the interest of all the people. must be able to act at all times to meet any sudden threat to the nation's security. A wise President will always work with Congress, but when Congress fails to act or is unable to act in a crisis, the President, under the Constitution, must use his powers to safeguard the nation."

No, this is not George W. Bush; it is President Truman, in the second volume of his memoirs, quoted by Alan F. Westin, "The Anatomy of a Constitutional Law Case [The Steel Seizure Case], at page 175.



David McCullough, in his biography, Truman," related that Ambassador Averell Harriman "… urged Truman to call for a Korean war resolution from Congress …," but President Truman took the advice of Secretary of State Dean Acheson "that such a resolution was unnecessary and unwise." McCullough continued, "The President, said Acheson, should rest on his constitutional authority as Commander in Chief."

McCullough added,"Truman sided with Acheson, telling Harriman further that to appeal to Congress now would make it more difficult for future presidents to deal with emergencies."