Question

Read the quote from President Theodore Roosevelt’s autobiography.

My view was that every executive officer . . . was a steward of the people. . . . I declined to adopt the view that what was imperatively necessary for the nation could not be done by the president unless he could find some specific authorization to do so.

What did President Roosevelt believe about the powers of the president?

Presidents should act only if the Constitution specifically authorizes it.
Presidents should follow the lead of Congress.
Presidents are bound by the Constitution, not by the needs of the people.
Presidential power can extend beyond the Constitution when it is best for the nation.

Answer 1

Presidential power can extend beyond the Constitution when it is best for the nation.

Roosevelt calls the president a "steward of the people" and rejects the idea that the president must wait for specific authorization before doing what is "imperatively necessary" for the nation.