Theodore Roosevelt: Imperial President, Dictator

On this date in 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt used his executive authority to set aside the Grand Canyon for permanent protection.  If it hadn't been for President Roosevelt's Draconian power grab — this unprecedented trampling of Freedom and Property Rights — the Grand Canyon would have turned into a cesspool of mining, drilling and fracking operations. 

In 1903, after his first visit to the Grand Canyon, Theodore Roosevelt said:

“In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which, so far as I know, is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world. I want to ask you to do one thing in connection with it in your own interest and in the interest of the country to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is.”

After the fact, in 1913, Roosevelt said:

“My belief was that it was not only the President’s 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…. I did not usurp power, but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power.  The course I followed was of regarding the Executive as subject only to the people, and, under the Constitution, bound to serve the people affirmatively in cases where the Constitution does not explicitly forbid him to render the service.”

Thank you Theodore Roosevelt.