Leadership and Constitutionality In Times of War
In times of crisis, nations look to leaders who will protect them from the dangers they fear. The United States has seen multiple wars and lived them out under multiple leaders, each of which had varying policies for protecting the American citizens from enemies, both foreign and domestic. Today we find ourselves asking how our present leader will protect the American citizens from outside terrorists, and wondering how previous leaders would react to the current situation. Some of the greatest and most revered presidents found themselves in the same situation we find ourselves today: where to draw the line between constitutionality and the safety of the American public. A closer look at three past presidents offers three different experiences with wartime policy and the preservation of civil rights in times of national emergency.
The Father who Never Forgot: Madison’s Wartime Policy
It would be impossible to say that James Madison ever forgot his writings of 1787. The Constitution would be forever engraved on his mind, the reminder of a shared vision between leaders who held history in the palms of their hands and shaped it into a fair and just Republic. Madison, as author of the document defining that very vision, shaped his own life and political policy to constantly mirror that vision. Of all the
presidents of the United States, Madison was most likely the one who remained most loyal to the Constitution. Even in times of war, when other presidents would take further executive measures (as they were allowed,) Madison was reluctant to jeopardize his citizen’s civil rights. Madison’s wartime policy clearly reflects a leader dedicated to the Constitution and its pres...
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... co-founders so carefully laid out in the document they produced that sweltering summer of 1787.
Works Cited
“Adams, John.” The American President. Accessed February 27, 2003; available from http://www.americanpresident.org/presbios/presbios.htm.
LaFeber, Walter. The American Age: U.S. Foreign Policy at Home and Abroad, 1750-Present. New York: W.W. Norton and Co., Inc., 1994.
“Madison, James.” The American President. Accessed February 27, 2003; available from http://www.americanpresident.org/presbios/presbios.htm.
Rehnquist, Chief Justice William A. “Civil Liberty in Wartime: Remarks of Supreme
Court Chief Justice William A. Rehnquist at the Director’s Forum, Woodrow
Wilson International Center for Scholars, November 17, 1999.” [speech online]
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http://www.totse.com/en/politics/political_spew/rant1.html.
Less than one week after the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S.A. Patriot Act was introduced to Congress. One month later, the act passed in the Senate with a vote of 98-1. A frightened nation had cried for protection against further attacks, but certainly got more than they had asked for. Russell Feingold, the only Senator to vote down the act, referred to it as, “legislation on the fly, unlike anything [he] had ever seen.” In their haste to protect our great nation, Congress suspended, “normal procedural processes, such as interagency review and committee hearings,” and, “many provisions were not checked for their constitutionality, lack of judicial oversight, and potential for abuse.” Ninety-eight senators were willing to overlook key civil liberty issues contained within the 342 page act. The lone dissenting vote, Wisconsin Senator Russell Feingold, felt that our battle against terrorism would be lost “without firing a shot” if we were to “sacrifice the liberties of the American people.” Feingold duly defended American civil liberties at the risk of his career, truly exemplifying political courage as defined by John F. Kennedy.
The American Civil War not only proved to be the country’s deadliest war but also precipitated one of the greatest constitutional crises in the history of the United States. President Lincoln is revered by many Americans today as a man of great moral principle who was responsible for both preventing the Union’s dissolution as well as helping to trigger the movement to abolish slavery. In retrospect, modern historians find it difficult to question the legitimacy of Lincoln’s actions as President. A more precise review of President Lincoln’s actions during the Civil War, however, reveals that many, if not the majority, of his actions were far from legitimate on constitutional and legal grounds. Moreover, his true political motives reveal his
The crucial issue of Madison’s time was the right of the people. The people should be involved in their government, and know about how their government can work with them.
In conclusion, Jordon Belfort has had a major influence on today’s world. Belfort changed the way that people today see Wall Street and the world of stockbrokers. He lived at the top of the food chain but fell back to being “pond scum” (“The Wolf”). He even proved to all that a successful life isn't always the most perfect. Belfort served his time and is even a motivational speaker now. Now, Belfort is an example of how drastically one’s life can change within minutes, days, months, or
98-176. 5 Robert H. Ferrell, America as a World Power, 1872-1945, (New York: Harper & Row Publishers Inc., 1971), p. 265. 6 Arthur Meier Schlesinger, p. 46. 7 Hamilton Fish, FDR: The Other Side of the Coin, (New York: Vantage Press 1976), pp.
All the presidents in the past have played an important part in shaping our country the way it is today. Either for better or for worse. James Madison is one of the presidents which made a difference for the better and probably did some of the best actions for our country. He did his job with pride for The United States of America and he did his job humbly with efficiency. That is why I look up to this American Hero.
It is the intention of this essay to explain the United States foreign policy behind specific doctrines. In order to realize current objectives, this paper will proceed as follows: Part 1 will define the Monroe Doctrine, Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 will concurrently explicate the Roosevelt Corollary, Good Neighbor Policy, and the Nixon Doctrine, discuss how each policy resulted in U.S. involvement in Latin American countries, describe how it was justified by the U.S. government, respectively, and finally, will bring this paper to a summation and conclusion.
Chafe, William H. The Unfinished Journey: America Since World War II. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Jordan Belfort starts off his first day on Wall Street eager to make it to the top, only to be told he is nothing more than lowly scum by Thomas Middleditch’s character. Mark Hanna takes Jordan out to lunch later that afternoon to show him the “real” way of making money. Mark explains that there is only two ways of being a stockbroker without losing your mind, and that is with cocaine and prostitutes. Mark incepts that making money is the only goal one should have. He tells Jordan that his only objective is to move money from the client’s pocket to your pocket. Jordan is first hesitant about cheating his client’s money away from them, but puts his skepticism aside and joins in on Hanna’s power chant. Jordan faces an internal conflict similar to what many have felt; should I choose to make money even if I know my actions to obtain that money is morally wrong? Like Jordan most people selfishly continue to make money, and push away their morals aside.
Faulker, William. American Studies at The University of Virginia . 1 April 1997. Online. 15 March 2014.
One of the longest lasting debates in the United States is the struggle to balance freedom and safety. Throughout history there have been instances were freedoms have been suspended- whether for the better or worse- because the United States was in a time of crisis. The Quasi War against the French, the Civil War, and the First World War were events where presidents found themselves under fire because of their controversial suspension of certain constitutional rights. Should certain freedoms be curtailed in times of crisis? This debate has always been so controversial because there has never been a majority one way or another. There have always been people for suspending freedoms to preserve safety and at the same time there have always been people that have believed that freedom is ultimately more important than safety.
It is somehow strange for today’s reader to find out that the situation with America’s foreign affairs hasn’t changed much. As some clever people have said, “The History book on the shelf is always repeating itself.” Even after nineteen years, Americans think of themselves as citizens of the strongest nation in the world. Even after the September the 11th. Even after Iraq. And Afghanistan.
Nye, Jr., Joseph S. “Hard and Soft Power in American Foreign Policy.” In Paradox of American Power. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. 4-17. Print.
Drab,B.(2005) Deterniments of Nominal Exchange Rates, Unpublished paper, International Financial Management, Harvard Business School, U.S.
Jordan Belfort throughout his entire life subverted the law for his own financial gain, always seeing money as worth the risk in the decisions he made. His decisions were made by a rational mind of his own volition, considering the long-term possibilities and how to stay ahead of his pursuers. He constructed an environment with Stratton Oakmont to enable this behaviour, as well as corrupt those around him to follow in his footsteps. This lead to his repeated violations of laws to generate wealth when his fear of punishment was lower than that of the rewards he could potentially gain. It was only when he was confronted with the reality of his punishment and experienced it directly that he was finally deterred from his criminal behaviour.