The Changing Role of the American President

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the thesis: The Presidents of the United States took on activist roles in response to wars and progressive social reform. Whereas powers assumed during war were to recede following war?s conclusion, the increased role of the President were always increased with social reform that put social programs under the command of the executive. This was to alter dramatically after Truman?s administration decided to introduce atomic weapons to warfare.

Paper Outline:

1. Lincoln?s Presidency
2. The Gilt Age Presidents
3. Gilt Age Presidents
4. Normalcy
5. Roosevelt?s New Deal
6. Truman and the Post-War Era

From the Paper:

"Wilson's conduct during and independent of the First World War was a testament to the caprice of an ideological leader who embodied many of the sentiments common to progressive idealists in the first decades of the 20th century. Wartime taxes on the wealthiest Americans jumped to above 70%, prompting most of them to put their money into tax-free municipal bonds. Many thought well of this move at the time, along with the subsequent inheritance tax, also known as the death tax. Degler is among them, and claims ?in taxing incomes according to the ability to pay, the progressives were taking notice of the highly interdependent nature of society.? (5)"

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