Quote by Theodore Roosevelt
My view was that every executive officer, and above all every executive officer in high position, was a steward of the people bound actively and affirmatively to do all he could for the people, and not to content himself with the negative merit of keeping his talents undamaged in a napkin. I declined to adopt the view that what was imperatively necessary for the Nation could not be done by the President unless he could find some specific authorization to do it. My belief was that it was not only his right but his duty to do anything that the needs of the Nation demanded unless such action was forbidden by the Constitution or by the laws. Under this interpretation of executive power I did and caused to be done many things not previously done by the President and the heads of the departments. I did not usurp power, but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power. In other words, I acted for the public welfare, I acted for the common well-being of all our people, whenever and in whatever manner was necessary, unless prevented by direct constitutional or legislative prohibition.
Summary
This quote, attributed to President Teddy Roosevelt, expresses his belief in the active and affirmative role of executive officers in serving the people. Roosevelt rejected the notion that a president should only act within the bounds of specific authorization, instead, he believed it was their duty to take action for the nation's needs, as long as it wasn't prohibited by the Constitution or laws. Roosevelt asserted that he didn't usurp power, but rather broadened the use of executive power in order to promote the public's welfare.
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