"{T}here must be no criticism of the President..."

[TechBear_Seattle]

I posted this quotation in a different thread, and thought it might be interesting to see some opinions about it. This is probably preaching to the choir, but let's discuss it anyway :hi:

This was written by Theodore Roosevelt in 1918, about 9 years after he left office. It was written, as far as I can tell, in response to an editorial or letter to the editor in the Kansas City Star, claiming that Americans must stand with President Woodrow Wilson in a time of war no matter how one felt about his policies.

Wilson was not a popular president. World War I, the "Great War", the "War to End All Wars", raged on towards its climax. In 1917 called for the creation of a Selective Service, and the first draft in 1918 was widely seen as a direct violation of the 14th Amendment (*). Also, Wilson's 1918 State of the Union Address outlined his Fourteen Points for rebuilding Europe after the war; these points were seen by many as an assault on American sovereignty and the first steps towards a world government.

In response to an exhortation that Americans must stand behind the president and support him, no matter what, Roosevelt wrote in the Kansas City Star on May 7, 1918:

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

What do you think of this quote? While most people on this board would be happy to apply it to *, do you think it equally applies to Clinton or any other president regardless of party, past or future?

Also, I would be much obliged if someone could point me to the complete text of Roosevelt's letter and not just this oft quoted part of it.


* Schenck v United States, which gave us the famous "fire in a crowded theater" ruling, came about when Charles T. Schenck was convicted of violating the Espionage Act of 1918 by handing out pamphlets comparing the draft with slavery. The Supreme Court upheld that conviction. The specific law which sent Schenck to prison on federal felony charges is still on the books as federal law: 18 USC Sec. 2388

[Lasher]

1. Schenck was right, conscription is a form of slavery.

Huge riots broke out on account of its inception.

[Zenlitened]

2. Teddy Roosevelt would kick the assess -- literally -- of the Repubs...

... who declare on a daily basis that criticism is unpatriotic. :grr:

... To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. thanks for this. I had forgot those words.

Teddy was a unique guy. Pity he left, then tried a comeback with a dying third party.

Even on a personal level, he was unusual. Physically fit, but not a nut like Bush, mentally curious and inquisitive, and well read and intellectually honest.
I read a biography about him a couple of years ago, and was amazed how little I knew about a captivating charecter.

[styersc]

4. Sincere criticism is not your right, it is your responsibility.

If you oppose or support political leaders, ideas or policies it is your responsibility to lay it out on the table. Democracy is an excercise, not just in a voting booth every couple of years.