‘Monroe and Lincoln come to mind as executives that took very strong actions that were controversial but avoided others because they felt constrained by the office and their oath.”
Lincoln himself admitted he disregarded the Constitution. Carl Sandburg called him America’s first dictator.
You can’t read his writings, conversations and speeches without the understanding that he felt constrained by his office and his oath.
I’m sick of the nation settling for oligarchs ruling as all powerful executives or petty tyrants. I wish we had a legislative branch.