Word: democratist
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...says Burnham, the presidency has become "the primary democratist institution." A democratist tone was already audible in President-to-be Woodrow Wilson's pronouncement, back in 1908, that the U.S. "craves a single leader." Democratism's big thrust came in the early years of the New Deal, with Franklin Roosevelt pushing batches of White House bills through Congress and even challenging the Supreme Court in his notorious (but illfated) court-packing plan...
Harry Truman carried the trend onward with his seizure of the steel mills in April 1952. President Truman, Burnham notes, never cited any specific law for the seizure, claimed only-with precise democratist logic-that the President "represents the interest of all the people," and must "use his powers to safeguard the nation" when Congress fails to act (an argument rejected by the Supreme Court). The explanation reminds Burnham of the doctrine of Salus populi suprema lex esto (The people's welfare is the highest law), an excuse for tyranny under the Roman Caesars...
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