The presidency has changed over time in significant ways. Early presidents like Washington emphasized unity and warned against political divisions. Later presidents signed laws expanding federal power, like the Sedition Acts. The presidency continued to evolve, with Lincoln leading the nation through civil war and FDR addressing the Great Depression. Modern presidents like Eisenhower highlighted the rise of the military-industrial complex, while Reagan emphasized reducing the role of government.

1. Presidential Analysis: Howhas the presidencychangedovertime? Avoidvague phrasesandwordingwhenanswering
the question. Youanswerwill be yourthesis. Backupwithat leastthree piecesof evidence fromthe following
documents. Alsouse informationfromthe studentspresentations,lecture andtextforthe bestgrade.
George Washington,Farwell Address,1796: “In contemplatingthe causeswhichmaydisturbourUnion,itoccurs as a
matterof seriousconcern,thatanyground shouldhave beenfurnishedforcharacterizingpartiesbygeographical
discriminations,NorthernandSouthern,AtlanticandWestern;whencedesigningmenmayendeavortoexcite abelief
that there isa real difference of local interestsandviews.One of the expedientsof partytoacquire influence, within
particulardistricts,istomisrepresentthe opinionsandaimsof otherdistricts.Youcannot shieldyourselvestoomuch
againstthe jealousiesandheartburningswhichspringfromthese misrepresentations;theytendtorenderalientoeach
otherthose whooughtto be boundtogetherbyfraternal affection….”
John Adams, SeditionActs,Section 2, 1798: That if anypersonshall write,print,utter.Orpublish,orshall cause or
procure to be written,printed,utteredorpublished,orshall knowinglyandwillinglyassistoraidinwriting,printing,
utteringorpublishinganyfalse,scandalousandmaliciouswritingorwritingsagainstthe governmentof the United
States,or eitherhouse of the Congressof the UnitedStates,orthe Presidentof the United States,withintenttodefame
the saidgovernment,oreitherhouse of the saidCongress,orthe saidPresident,orto bringthem.or eitherof them,
intocontemptor disrepute;ortoexcite againstthem, oreitheroranyof them, the hatredof the goodpeople of the
UnitedStates,or toexcite anyunlawful combinationstherein,foropposingorresistinganylaw of the UnitedStates,or
any act of the Presidentof the UnitedStates,done inpursuance of anysuchlaw,or of the powersinhimvestedbythe
constitutionof the UnitedStates,orto resist,oppose,ordefeatanysuchlaw or act, or to aid,encourage or abetany
hostile designsof anyforeignnationagainstthe UnitedStates,theirpeople orgovernment,thensuchperson,being
thereof convictedbefore anycourtof the UnitedStateshavingjurisdictionthereof,shall be punishedbyafine not
exceedingtwothousanddollars,andbyimprisonmentnotexceedingtwoyears.”
Thomas Jefferson,FirstInaugural Address,March 4, 1801: "It isproperyoushouldunderstandwhatIdeemthe
essential principlesof ourGovernment...Equal andexactjustice toall men,of whateverpersuasion,religiousor
political..."
AndrewJackson, Bank Veto Message,1832: “It isto be regrettedthatthe rich and powerful too oftenbendthe actsof
governmenttotheirselfishpurposes.Distinctionsinsocietywill alwaysexistundereveryjustgovernment.Equalityof
talents,of education,orof wealthcannot be producedbyhuman institutions.Inthe full enjoymentof the giftsof
Heavenandthe fruitsof superiorindustry,economy,andvirtue,everymanisequallyentitledtoprotectionbylaw;but
whenthe lawsundertake toaddto these natural andjust advantagesartificial distinctions,togranttitles,gratuities,and
exclusiveprivileges,tomake the richricherand the potentmore powerful,the humble membersof society–the farmers,
mechanics,andlaborers–whohave neitherthe time northe meansof securinglike favorstothemselves,have arightto
complainof the injustice of theirGovernment.”
JamesK.Polk,Declarationof WarRequest,1846: “Inmymessageatthe commencementof thepresentsessionIinformed
youthatuponthe earnestappealbothof the Congressandconventionof TexasIhadorderedanefficientmilitaryforceto
take aposition"betweenthe Nuecesandthe DelNorte."Thishadbecomenecessarytomeetathreatenedinvasionof Texas
bythe Mexicanforces,forwhichextensivemilitarypreparationshadbeenmade.The invasionwasthreatenedsolely
because Texashaddetermined,inaccordancewithasolemnresolutionof the Congressof the UnitedStates,toannex
herself toourUnion,andunderthesecircumstancesitwasplainlyourdutytoextendourprotectionoverhercitizensand
soil.”
AbrahamLincoln, SecondInaugural Address,1864: “On the occasioncorrespondingtothisfouryearsago all thoughts
were anxiouslydirectedtoanimpendingcivil war.All dreadedit,all soughttoavertit.While the inaugural addresswas

2. beingdeliveredfromthisplace,devotedaltogethertosavingthe Unionwithoutwar,insurgentagentswere inthe city
seekingtodestroyitwithoutwar—seekingtodissolve the Unionanddivideeffectsbynegotiation.Bothparties
deprecatedwar,butone of themwouldmake war ratherthan letthe nationsurvive,andthe otherwouldacceptwar
rather thanletit perish,andthe war came.”
Rep. ThaddeusStevens,prosecutingAndrewJohnson, 1868: “The Presidentjustifieshimself byassertingthatall
previousPresidentshadexercisedthe same rightof removingofficers,forcause tobe judgedof bythe Presidentalone.
Had there beennolawto prohibititwhenMr. Stantonwas removedthe caseswouldhave beenparallel,andthe one
mightbe adducedas an argumentinfavor of the other. But, since the actionof anyof the Presidentstowhichhe refers,
a law hadbeenpassedbyCongress,afterastubborncontroversywiththe Executive,denyingthatrightandprohibiting
it inthe future,andimposingasevere penaltyuponanyexecutive officer whoshouldexercise it;andthat,too,afterthe
Presidenthadhimself made issue onitsconstitutionalityandbeendefeated. Nopretext,therefore,anylongerexisted
that such rightwasvestedinthe Presidentbyvirtue of hisoffice. Hence the attempt toshieldhimself undersuch
practice is a mostlame evasionof the questionatissue. "Didhe "take care that thislaw shouldbe faithfully"executed?”
UlyssesS Grant, 1875:

3. Theodore Roosevelt,1907:

4. Franklin DelanoRoosevelt, FirstInaugural Address,1933: Thisis a day of national consecration.AndIamcertainthat
my fellow Americansexpectthatonmy inductionintothe PresidencyIwill addressthemwithacandoranda decision
whichthe presentsituationof ourNationimpels.Thisispreeminentlythe time tospeakthe truth,the whole truth,
franklyandboldly.Norneedwe shrinkfromhonestlyfacingconditionsinourcountrytoday.ThisgreatNationwill
endure asit has endured,will revive andwillprosper.So,firstof all, letme assertmyfirmbeliefthatthe onlythingwe
have to fearis fearitself—nameless,unreasoning,unjustifiedterrorwhichparalyzesneededeffortstoconvertretreat
intoadvance.Ineverydark hourof our national life aleadershipof franknessand vigorhasmetwiththatunderstanding
and supportof the people themselveswhichisessential tovictory.Iam convincedthatyouwill againgive thatsupport
to leadershipinthesecritical days. Insucha spiriton mypart and on yourswe face our commondifficulties.They
concern,thankGod, onlymaterial things.Valueshave shrunkentofantasticlevels;taxeshave risen;ourabilitytopay
has fallen;governmentof all kindsisfacedbyseriouscurtailmentof income;the meansof exchange are frozenin the
currentsof trade;the witheredleavesof industrial enterprise lieoneveryside;farmersfindnomarketsfortheir
produce;the savingsof manyyears inthousandsof familiesare gone. More important,a hostof unemployedcitizens
face the grimproblemof existence,andanequallygreatnumbertoil withlittlereturn.Onlyafoolishoptimistcandeny
the dark realitiesof the moment. Yetour distresscomesfromnofailure of substance.We are strickenbynoplague of
locusts.Comparedwiththe perilswhichourforefathersconqueredbecause theybelievedandwere notafraid,we have
still muchto be thankful for.Nature still offersherbountyandhumaneffortshave multipliedit.Plentyisatour
doorstep,buta generoususe of itlanguishesinthe verysightof the supply.”
Dwight Eisenhower,Military-Industrial Speech,1961: “We now standten yearspastthe midpointof acenturythat
has witnessedfourmajorwarsamonggreat nations.Three of these involvedourowncountry.Despitethese holocausts
Americaistodaythe strongest,the mostinfluential andmostproductive nationinthe world.Understandablyproudof
thispre-eminence,we yetrealizethatAmerica'sleadershipandprestige depend,notmerelyuponourunmatched
material progress,richesandmilitarystrength,butonhow we use our powerinthe interestsof worldpeace andhuman
betterment…A vitalelementinkeepingthe peace isourmilitaryestablishment.Ourarmsmustbe mighty,readyfor
instantaction,sothat no potential aggressor maybe temptedtoriskhisowndestruction…Ourmilitaryorganization
todaybears little relationtothatknownbyany of my predecessorsinpeacetime,orindeedbythe fightingmenof World
War IIor Korea…Until the latestof our worldconflicts,the UnitedStateshadnoarmamentsindustry.Americanmakers

5. of plowsharescould,withtime andasrequired,make swordsaswell.Butnow we canno longerriskemergency
improvisationof national defense;we have beencompelledtocreate a permanentarmamentsindustryof vast
proportions.Addedtothis,three andahalf millionmenandwomenare directlyengagedinthe defense establishment.
We annuallyspendonmilitarysecuritymore thanthe netincome of all UnitedStatescorporations…Thisconjunctionof
an immense militaryestablishmentandalarge arms industryisnew inthe Americanexperience.The total influence --
economic,political,evenspiritual -- isfeltineverycity,everyState house,everyoffice of the Federalgovernment.We
recognize the imperative needforthisdevelopment.Yetwe mustnotfail to comprehenditsgrave implications.Ourtoil,
resourcesandlivelihoodare all involved;soisthe verystructure of our society…Inthe councilsof government,we must
guard againstthe acquisitionof unwarrantedinfluence,whethersoughtorunsought,bythe military-industrialcomplex.
The potential forthe disastrousrise of misplacedpowerexistsandwill persist…Wemustneverletthe weightof this
combinationendangerourlibertiesordemocraticprocesses.We shouldtake nothingforgranted.Onlyanalertand
knowledgeable citizenrycancompel the propermeshingof the huge industrialandmilitarymachineryof defensewith
our peaceful methodsandgoals,sothat securityandlibertymayprospertogether…Akinto,andlargelyresponsible for
the sweepingchangesinourindustrial-militaryposture,hasbeenthe technological revolutionduringrecent
decades…Downthe longlane of the historyyettobe writtenAmericaknowsthatthisworldof ours,evergrowing
smaller,mustavoidbecomingacommunityof dreadfulfearandhate,andbe instead,a proudconfederationof mutual
trust andrespect. Such a confederationmustbe one of equals.The weakestmustcome tothe conference table with
the same confidence asdowe,protectedaswe are by our moral,economic,andmilitarystrength.Thattable,though
scarred bymany pastfrustrations,cannotbe abandonedforthe certainagonyof the battlefield.”
Jack Kennedy,Inaugural Address,1961: “The worldisverydifferentnow.Formanholdsinhismortal handsthe power
to abolishall formsof humanpovertyandall formsof humanlife.Andyetthe same revolutionarybeliefsforwhichour
forebearsfoughtare still atissue aroundthe globe — the beliefthatthe rightsof man come not fromthe generosityof
the state,but fromthe hand of God…We dare not forgettodaythat we are the heirsof that firstrevolution.Letthe
wordgo forth fromthistime andplace,to friendandfoe alike,thatthe torchhas beenpassedtoa new generationof
Americans — bornin thiscentury,temperedbywar,disciplinedbyahard andbitterpeace,proudof our ancient
heritage — andunwillingtowitnessorpermitthe slow undoingof those humanrightstowhichthis Nationhasalways
beencommitted,andtowhichwe are committedtodayat home andaround the world…Leteverynationknow,whether
it wishesuswell orill,thatwe shall payanyprice,bearany burden,meetanyhardship,supportanyfriend,oppose any
foe, inorderto assure the survival andthe successof liberty...Andso,myfellow Americans:asknotwhatyourcountry
can do for you — askwhat youcan dofor your country. My fellow citizensof the world:asknotwhatAmericawill do
for you,butwhat togetherwe cando for the freedomof man…Finally,whetheryouare citizensof Americaorcitizensof
the world,askof us the same highstandardsof strengthandsacrifice whichwe askof you.With a good conscience our
onlysure reward,withhistorythe final judge of ourdeeds,letusgoforthto leadthe landwe love,askinghisblessing
and hishelp,butknowingthathere onearthGod's work musttrulybe our own.”
GeraldFord, 1975:

6. Jimmy Carter, Crisisof Confidence,1979: “The erosionof ourconfidence inthe future isthreateningtodestroythe
social and the political fabricof America. The confidence thatwe have alwayshadasa people isnotsimplysome
romanticdreamor a proverbina dustybookthat we read juston the Fourthof July. It isthe ideawhichfoundedour
nationand hasguidedourdevelopmentasapeople.Confidence inthe future hassupportedeverythingelse -- public
institutionsandprivate enterprise,ourownfamilies,andthe veryConstitutionof the UnitedStates.Confidence has
definedourcourse andhasservedas a linkbetweengenerations.We've alwaysbelievedinsomethingcalledprogress.
We've alwayshada faiththatthe daysof our childrenwouldbe betterthanourown. Our people are losingthatfaith,
not onlyingovernmentitself butinthe abilityascitizenstoserve asthe ultimate rulersandshapersof ourdemocracy.
As a people we knowourpastand we are proudof it. Our progresshasbeenpartof the livinghistoryof America,even
the world.We always believedthatwe were partof a great movementof humanityitself calleddemocracy,involvedin
the search forfreedom,andthatbelief hasalwaysstrengthenedusinourpurpose.Butjustas we are losingour
confidence inthe future,we are alsobeginningtoclose the dooronour past. In a nationthat wasproudof hard work,
strongfamilies,close-knitcommunities,andourfaithinGod, toomany of us now tendto worshipself-indulgenceand
consumption.Humanidentityisnolongerdefinedbywhatone does,butbywhatone owns.But we've discoveredthat
owningthingsandconsumingthingsdoesnotsatisfyourlongingformeaning.We've learnedthatpilingupmaterial

7. goodscannot fill the emptinessof liveswhichhave noconfidence orpurpose. The symptomsof thiscrisisof the
Americanspiritare all aroundus.For the firsttime inthe historyof our countrya majorityof our people believe thatthe
nextfive yearswill be worse thanthe pastfive years.Two-thirdsof ourpeople donotevenvote.The productivityof
Americanworkersisactuallydropping,andthe willingnessof Americanstosave forthe future hasfallenbelowthatof
all otherpeople inthe Westernworld. Asyouknow,there isagrowingdisrespectforgovernmentandforchurchesand
for schools,the newsmedia,andotherinstitutions.Thisisnota message of happinessorreassurance,butitisthe truth
and itis a warning. These changesdidnothappenovernight.They'vecome uponusgraduallyoverthe lastgeneration,
yearsthat were filledwithshocksandtragedy.”
Ronald Reagan, Various Quotes,1981-1989 :
• "Recessioniswhenyourneighborloseshisjob.Depressioniswhenyoulose yours.Andrecoveryiswhen
JimmyCarterloseshis."
• "I have leftorderstobe awakenedatanytime incase of national emergency -- evenif I'mina Cabinet
meeting."
• "The nine mostterrifyingwordsinthe Englishlanguage are:'I'mfromthe governmentandI'mhere to
help.'"
• “…you knowthere isa tenyear delayinthe SovietUnionforthe delivery of anautomobile.Andonlyone
out of sevenfamiliesinthe SovietUnionownautomobiles.There isa10 year wait,andyou go throughquite a
processwhenyouare readyto by,and thenyouput upthe moneyinadvance…Thisman laiddownthe money,
and the fellowincharge saidtohim:Come back in10 yearsand getyour car… The man answered:Morningor
afternoon?Andthe fellowbehindthe countersaid:Tenyearsfromnow,whatdifference doesitmake?Andhe
said:Well,the plumberiscominginthe morning.”
• “…the storyaboutthe twofellowsinthe SovietUnionwhowere walkingdownthe streetandone of
themsays:Have we reallyachievedfull communism?Isthisit?Is thisnow full communism?The otherone said:
Oh no,thingsare gonnageta lotworse.”
WilliamClinton,1999: