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.
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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."
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