FDR: "The Godfather"

According to Unger, it's all FDR's fault, because “The precedents he set, and his successors’ decisions to continue down the same paths, make FDR the godfather of America’s emergency state” (Unger 29). Though he acknowledges that FDR (unlike many of his successors) was, at least, feeling the pinch of legitimate war, Unger insists that FDR is nonetheless guilty of three shenanigans that lead America toward the modern "Emergency State":

1. He encouraged the growth of a secretive national police and intelligence apparatus, accountable only to the president.

◦       Blatant step toward "absolute" presidential power

◦       Violation of the first amendment

▪       Spying on law abiding citizens is not okay

2. He declared War in 1940 without the permission of Congress

◦       (This is definitely not okay by the constitution)

3. He mobilized war production and rewarded participating companies

◦       Confusing, but essentially just another power that he stripped from Congress (Power of the purse)

Each of these actions, Unger insists, has brought America closer and closer to the "imperial presidency" (2), which allows the president way too much power. Furthermore, the power he claims lessens the power of the congress, and thereby does away with the constitutional system of checks and balances that was supposed to stop all this from happening in the first place!


Then comes Truman...