Federalism or Teddy Roosevelt: You Can Only Pick One: Trump’s supporters should be careful not to saddle him with the legacy of a man who did everything to undermine the Constitution

American Greatness ^ | 04/13/2024 | Stephen Soukup

[SeekAndFind]

Over the course of the last week, some of President Trump’s most ardent and vocal online supporters have engaged in a bit of cognitive dissonance, praising the former president for his foresight and wisdom in calling for a federalist solution to one of the nation’s most intractable problems while simultaneously singing the praises of the one man who likely did more than any other American to crush the nation’s federalist history and culture.

Specifically, President Trump called for the question of abortion to be handled by the states, for the federal government to relinquish its power over the issue and enable government at a level closer to the people to enact their wishes. This solution is problematic for a variety of reasons, including, most notably, the Founders’ declaration that “Governments are instituted among Men” to secure the rights embodied in the “self-evident” truths “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

That notwithstanding, Trump is almost certainly correct in arguing for a return to federalism to address many of the country’s most pressing and divisive issues. Not only was this the course agreed upon at the nation’s founding, but it also seems likely to be a sagacious solution to the ever-increasing threats posed by institutional “bigness”: Big Government, Big Business, Big Tech, Big Finance, etc. The growth of the federal state and the centralization of authority consequent to it—as well as the growth of other institutions that are empowered by the federal state’s reach—have been almost inarguably destructive to every aspect of the nation’s well-being.

As the great Russell Kirk put it, “All those gifts of variety, contrast, competition, communal pride and sympathetic association that characterize man at his manliest are menaced by the ascendancy of the omnicompetent state of modern times….”

It is ironic, then, that while Trump was out defending the virtues of federalism and while his supporters were praising him for doing so, many of those same supporters were also singing the praises of the nation’s 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. While it is true that Roosevelt served in office as a Republican, that’s not to say that he was, in any way, a conservative. There is a reason, after all, that the above-mentioned Russell Kirk, who was born three months before Roosevelt died, is considered the “godfather of American conservatism.”

Conservatism as a coherent force did not really exist in American politics before the 1950s. Teddy Roosevelt, for his part, was, quite literally, a Progressive. His famous third-party run for the presidency in 1912 was under the banner of the Progressive Party. Temperamentally and ideologically, he had a great deal more in common with his distant cousin, Franklin, than he did with Ronald Reagan or any conservatives of the modern era.

In truth, Roosevelt is one of the three people in American politics most responsible for laying the foundation for the “omnicompetent” federal state—along with Woodrow Wilson and Herbert Croly.

When he was inaugurated, after the assassination and death of President McKinley, Roosevelt promised that he would “go slow” with his reform agenda—largely since no one had voted for it—but he couldn’t help himself. Within months, he was railing against “the rich,” complaining endlessly about “the trusts,” and insisting that it was his responsibility to fix the faults in the Founders’ Constitution.

In his first annual message to the nation, Roosevelt derided the Constitution and the federalism so prized by its framers, declaring that they had been woefully mistaken when they “accepted as a matter of course that the several States were the proper authorities to regulate, so far as was then necessary, the comparatively insignificant and strictly localized corporate bodies of the day.” He forgave the Founders personally (and ever so graciously) but nevertheless insisted that “The conditions today are wholly different” than they were in 1788, “and wholly different action is called for.” “The old laws and the old customs, which had almost the binding force of law,” he continued, were no longer sufficient “to regulate the accumulation and distribution of wealth.”

Most tellingly, he suggested that fate had empowered him to act on the people’s “sincere conviction that combination and concentration should be, not prohibited, but supervised and within reasonable limits controlled; and in my judgment, this conviction is right.” He insisted that he would, in other words, have to make himself—and the government more broadly—the partner of American business to see that the concentration of wealth was properly used to advance the general welfare.

These then are Teddy Roosevelt’s Progressive legacies: a belief in the inadequacy of the Constitution, a belief that government can and should be the arbiter of economic success (opening the door to corporatism), and the inauguration of the nation’s perpetual and ongoing class war, in which “the rich” and “the industrialists” (i.e., businessmen) are deemed enemies of the people.

It is worth noting that whatever one thinks of Roosevelt, his ideology, or his reforms, the necessity of his crusade was questionable at best. Despite the Panic of 1893 and the subsequent depression, the American Gross National Product (GNP) grew at a roughly 4.5% rate from 1890-1907. During much of the same period, the decade leading up to Roosevelt’s presidency, prices either remained flat or fell (1894, -3.7%; 1895, -3.8%). The “trusts” may have been a social and political issue for the nation but were hardly an economic concern. One would be hard-pressed to make the case that these so-called enemies of the people were enemies of anyone other than Roosevelt himself.

The ongoing fascination of some segments of the political right with Theodore Roosevelt is honestly quite baffling. The late Senator John McCain also idealized Roosevelt, aligning himself with the image of the “Bull Moose.” The Bull Moose, of course, was the official mascot of the Progressive Party, and the “Bull Moose Party” was just a nickname for the Progressives.

In short, President Trump’s supporters should be glad and pleased that their guy has embraced federalism, but they should also be careful not to saddle him with the legacy of a man who did everything in his power to undermine the Constitution and its federalist spirit. Not only are the positions at odds with one another, but the latter bodes ill for his endeavor to Make America Great Again.

[x]

Nixon went through the Depression and WWII. People in that generation might be more accepting of big government than those of other generations. That goes especially for people who went into government. Even those who disliked FDR might have a soft spot for TR, as Nixon also did for Wilson.

Nixon's father voted for TR. Taft wasn't on the ballot in California. Frank Nixon was a Republican who loved to talk politics. He broke with the party, though, to support Wilson in 1916, LaFollette in 1924 and FDR in 1936.

This part may or may not be true:

Biographer Stephen E. Ambrose wrote that Nixon ceased favoring the Democratic Party by the age of 17. During the campaign for the 1896 United States presidential election, Nixon had an encounter with presidential candidate William McKinley, who asked him how he was going to vote, Nixon replying, "Republican, of course!" Ambrose cited the encounter as completing Nixon's switch to favoring the Republican Party.

[Carry_Okie]

Teddy was from a New York banking family, a tool of JP Morgan. The powers he hoped to wield to concentrate power and Federalize regulation had been incorporated via the 14th Amendment, the brainchild of the railroad lobby. See Kelo and the 14th Amendment: Exploring a Constitutional Koan.

[SteelPSUGOP]

So this is basically reminding folks about TR in the context of Trump supporters talking favorably of the guy? Who is doing this sort of thing or is this just another article looking for clicks based on a premise which isn’t really true.

While TR railed against the rich, he was talking specifically about some of the industrialists who were wildly wealthy vs their workers. He cared about the environment. These are not positions exclusively for “progressives”. Remember, progressives are communists who what a small group ( Themselves ) to control everything. The romanticizing of progressives is another false narrative.

[Fuzz]

He did call for the ‘termination of all rules, regulations and articles, even those found in the constitution’ to overturn the 2020 election.

So there is that.

[FreeReign]

No where near as close to undermining the Constitution as Wilson & FDR!

Teddy was one of the Federal State founding fathers.

I've long disliked him. And I live right down the road from his smelly Sagamore Hill home.

[bigbob]

Pointless argument. It’s the left that wastes energy worrying about historical figures.

[PerConPat]

I do not believe politicians are able to force policies on majorities. Rather, it is when the cultural and economic winds are strong enough in various directions that shrewd pols take charge. I'm way past being pi$$ed at Roosevelts or Bidens etc. for taking advantage of human fragility/stupidity. I save my displeasure for those who vote for them...including family and acquaintances.

Trump is a businessman who felt the wind blowing toward freedom and rode it into politics. That puts him, ego etc. and all, on a par with the great leaders and defenders of freedom in our past.

[x]

Roosevelt antagonized Morgan when he stopped Morgan’s big Northern Securities merger. Later on, Morgan partners backed TR’s 1912 run for the presidency. Teddy had a reputation as a “trustbuster,” but he grew more friendly to big banking and megamergers after leaving office. It’s not clear that TR’s family had been financially involved with Morgan in his formative years though. There were plenty of old money New Yorkers who weren’t.

The 14th Amendment was orginally intended to deal with the aftermath of emancipation and efforts to disenfranchise freed slaves. Corporations used the amendment after courts said it applied to corporate “persons,” but I doubt that was the original intent of the amendment.

[x]

TR is admired because he was a fighter. FDR was a lot smoother and more slippery. Some of the things TR fought for are questionable now — imperialism and racialism as well as big government — but he’s still going to attract some admirers because of the fight in him. It’s similar with Andrew Jackson.

[stanne]

Please cite that. Please give an article.

[stanne]

“ He did call for the ‘termination of all rules, regulations and articles, even those found in the constitution’ to overturn the 2020 election”

Need to see the article on that

People think it’s political that there’s an argument or even a question that the democrats stole the 2020

That is quite incorrect

[ProgressingAmerica]

I started running the progressingamerica project around 2010 - then at the time (myself) not fully realizing the full extent of Theodore Roosevelt’s progressivism. I had only then started to begin to realize the larger-than-life role that Woodrow Wilson played. Nevertheless, -

This is a huge contradiction that the conservative movement is going to have to resolve. We cannot hold out Progressivism as America’s Cancer then do an about-face and hold out Theodore Roosevelt as the “good progressive” while carving out an exception for him that he did not earn and does not deserve. Calling this a cognitive dissonance is right on the money. There is no such thing as a good progressive, no progressive deserves a get-out-of-jail-free card for the damage they have done.

Any time I’ve pointed out TR’s big government love, his globalism, his anti-constitutional rhetoric and actions, it never earns me cred as an anti-progressive - not that that’s what I seek its merely commentary on the end result. I’m allowed to discuss the end results of these things. The reality is when I record words that Theodore Roosevelt spoke and create downloadable audio books out of them, it’s an attack on the U.S. constitution that I’m forced to make come to life. That’s what TR represented, but that should not be my fault for recording it, it should be TR’s fault for saying it(or if an action, for doing it) in the first place.

My first completed and released audio book was “Philip Dru, Administrator”, as an expression of my realization about what Wilson represented and still to this day represents - but admittedly Woodrow Wilson is only 50%. When studying the deep state/administrative state you actively have to lie to yourself to ignore that TR is smiling back at you in the mix. In order to reach 100% you must consider both Wilson and TR at the same time.

TR was who he was and we need to accept that. If he were alive today we would call TR an Obamunist and mock him. Obama was a fighter, but who cares? He fought for all the wrong things. Above all, the single-most undeniable fact of all facts that nobody on the planet can deny: Theodore Roosevelt was in fact America’s first progressive president. There is no way to avoid this. You can only hide from it. That’s where it begins.

Conservatives want more than anything to be rid of progressivism. Except. Conservatives also want more than anything to claim Theodore Roosevelt as their own. Only one can stand. The other must fall.

I welcome anybody who wants more than anything to defend Theodore Roosevelt - listen to the New Nationalism speech. I guarantee it will make your stomach churn. Who cares if he hunted a lion. He hated the Constitution. That is what matters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzj9-cHMLwY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCtFyrisfvM

[Fuzz]

Sure.

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/06/ted-cruz-john-cornyn-trump-constitution/

[ProgressingAmerica]

“The image and personality of TR is seductive to Conservatives”

“TR is admired because he was a fighter.”

-

Yeah, that’s the thing. Obama was a fighter. Chuck U Schumer is a fighter. Pelosi is a fighter. Theodore Roosevelt was a fighter.

They fought for the wrong things, so what does the image matter? Yes, I put those things together because they do match.

[stanne]

“ U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz denounced former President Donald Trump for suggesting a “termination” of the Constitution in order to overturn the 2020 election, while also framing the comment as an …”

A story by the Trump hating Texas Tribune with a statement by the Trump hating Ted Cruz is insufficient

[ProgressingAmerica]

"No where near as close to undermining the Constitution as Wilson & FDR!"

Yeah, but well not as much as LBJ! So Wilson and FDR also deserve a get out of jail free card in addition to the one you gave to Teddy.

But wait, Carter! So LBJ deserves a get out of jail free card.

But Team Clinton! So Carter gets a get out of jail free card.

But Obama! So Clinton gets a get out of jail free card.

Now we have Biden, and I can't tell you how many times I've been sickened to hear people say Biden is worse than Obama. Another get out of jail free card? Well I guess ok!

How many get out of jail for free cards do you people have left in your stack, anyways? When the next guy comes along, worse than Biden, does Biden get a get out of jail free card too?

Stop handing out "get out of jail free" cards to these progressives!!!!!!

[Fuzz]

lol

https://www.google.com/search?q=termination+of+all+rules%2C+regulations&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS1035US1036&oq=&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgCECMYJxjqAjIHCAAQRRixATIJCAEQIxgnGOoCMgkIAhAjGCcY6gIyCQgDECMYJxjqAjIJCAQQIxgnGOoCMgkIBRAjGCcY6gIyCQgGECMYJxjqAjIJCAcQIxgnGOoCMgkICBAjGCcY6gIyCQgJECMYJxjqAtIBCjUzMDU4MGoxajeoAgqwAgE&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Here. Pick a source you think is legit. Maybe check the images and screen shots showing the post or go to truth social and see for yourself.

This game is so old.

[Dr. Franklin]

The image and personality of TR is seductive to Conservatives but the reality is a different matter. He was a progressive big Government guy who started a lot of the overreach we are suffering today.

Conservatism and federalism are not the same ideology. Anti-federalism, is synonymous with states' rights. Federalism is the belief that the federal government should be preeminent in all matters. The immigration crisis shows the difference between the two ideologies.

[ProgressingAmerica]

"IMHO, it was the 17th Amendment that really destroyed federalism."

I agree, followed closely in its danger (in a different context) by the 16th Amendment.

Both of which (amendments) owe their existence to Theodore Roosevelt.

[stanne]

What game is so old? The one where you can pick from any liberal news source from google?

What makes you so certain he was wrong or anti constitutional? You’re getting the news from liberals.

Think.