--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't doubt that there are many…" description: "\"I don't doubt that there are many presidential acts that would constitute obstructions of justice if anyone but the president engaged in them but which..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/benjamin-wittes-9097_doubt_i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presid_1348354.jpg" --- # I don't doubt that there are many presidential acts that… ![“I don't doubt that there are many presidential acts that would constitute obstructions of justice if anyone but the president engaged in them but which constitute legitimate exercises of presidential power when the president engages in them.” quote by Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/benjamin-wittes-9097_doubt_i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presid_1348354.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/benjamin-wittes-9097_doubt_i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presid_1348354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/benjamin-wittes-9097_doubt_i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presid_1348354.jpg) > “I don't doubt that there are many presidential acts that would constitute obstructions of justice if anyone but the president engaged in them but which constitute legitimate exercises of presidential power when the president engages in them.” [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the tension between legitimate presidential authority and actions that could be seen as obstructing justice if performed by others. **In simple terms:** Presidential power can be both lawful and potentially abusive. Key Takeaway Recognize the dual nature of authority. Themes law ethics government accountability Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical political When to use this quote - Legal analysis - policy making - public oversight - media commentary Key Concepts Constitutional law separation of powers political theory Questions to Reflect On - How do we define legitimate presidential actions? - What safeguards prevent abuse? A Different Perspective Power can be abused despite legal justification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Exercises Presidential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercises-presidential-4577024/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Obstructions Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstructions-justice-4577023/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [President Engages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-engages-4577025/) [Presidential Acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential-acts-4577022/) [Presidential power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential-power/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [“In truth, there will never be enough power in the presidency for an incumbent to make good on a purely constructive leadership project, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-skowronek/in-truth-there-will-never-be-enough-power-in-the-presidency-for-an/) [Stephen Skowronek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-skowronek/) > [For presidential power to meaningfully expand, it is not enough for a president to simply make a power grab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/for-presidential-power-to-meaningfully-expand-it-is-not-enough-for-a/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [Presidential power is the power to persuade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-neustadt/presidential-power-is-the-power-to-persuade/) [Richard Neustadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-neustadt/) > [Presidential power was overruled by the high bench in July 1974, when President Nixon was ordered to turn over some audio tapes of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/presidential-power-was-overruled-by-the-high-bench-in-july-1974-when/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [When you have a president in his campaign who ran saying things that not are just contrary to a fact, but literally threatening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/when-you-have-a-president-in-his-campaign-who-ran-saying-things-that/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Liberty in the United States will never be reestablished so long as elites and masses alike look to the president to perform supernatural feats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/liberty-in-the-united-states-will-never-be-reestablished-so-long-as/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [Vice President Dick Cheney reportedly has been disturbed over what he sees as the erosion of presidential powers since the Watergate scandal and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/vice-president-dick-cheney-reportedly-has-been-disturbed-over-what-he/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. 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I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I build on Christ, the rock of ages; on his sure mercies described in his word, and on his promises, all which I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/i-build-on-christ-the-rock-of-ages-on-his-sure-mercies-described-in/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. 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That's why I might be more alarmed by Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/i-m-an-unabashed-apologist-for-strong-national-security-authority/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [If you believe, as I do, that the scope and range of presidential authority is great, that puts a lot of weight on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/if-you-believe-as-i-do-that-the-scope-and-range-of-presidential/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [In any long string of letters, one can find countless anomalies that will seem like convincing proofs of hidden meaning to the mind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/in-any-long-string-of-letters-one-can-find-countless-anomalies-that/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [To get a FISA warrant to spy on a suspected spy, the feds go before a super-secret court located in a sealed room in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/to-get-a-fisa-warrant-to-spy-on-a-suspected-spy-the-feds-go-before-a/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [One effect of Roe was to mobilize a permanent constituency for criminalizing abortion - a constituency that has driven much of the southern realignment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/one-effect-of-roe-was-to-mobilize-a-permanent-constituency-for/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [There is no doubt in my mind that Article II limits to a considerable degree the application of the obstruction statutes to the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-that-article-ii-limits-to-a-considerable/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [It might seem perverse for honestly religious people to group their faiths with those of the sadists and megalomaniacs who run most cults, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/it-might-seem-perverse-for-honestly-religious-people-to-group-their/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [Eric Holder is a decent man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/eric-holder-is-a-decent-man/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [Al-Qaida is a cult of martyrdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/al-qaida-is-a-cult-of-martyrdom/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [I generally favor permissive abortion laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/i-generally-favor-permissive-abortion-laws/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [While I oppose the death penalty as a policy matter, in a legal culture in which we reserve the right to execute people for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/while-i-oppose-the-death-penalty-as-a-policy-matter-in-a-legal/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [We should stop thinking of Snowden, to the extent that we ever were, as a hero. We should stop thinking of him as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/we-should-stop-thinking-of-snowden-to-the-extent-that-we-ever-were-as/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [Trump fired Jim Comey because the most dangerous thing in the world, if you are Donald Trump, is a person who tells the truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/trump-fired-jim-comey-because-the-most-dangerous-thing-in-the-world/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) [Explore all 75 Benjamin Wittes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. 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Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) [Harry Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapman/) > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't doubt that there are many presidential acts that would constitute obstructions of justice if anyone but the president engaged in them but which constitute legitimate exercises of presidential power when the president engages in them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Wittes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presidential-acts-that-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presidential-acts-that-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/benjamin-wittes-9097_doubt_i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presid_1348354.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/benjamin-wittes-9097_doubt_i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presid_1348354.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73e/benjamin-wittes-9097_doubt_i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presid_1348354.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't doubt that there are many presidential acts that would constitute obstructions of justice if anyone…” — Benjamin Wittes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Wittes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't doubt that there are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presidential-acts-that-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/i-don-t-doubt-that-there-are-many-presidential-acts-that-would/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```