--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a way I never did with George W. Bush…" description: "\"In a way I never did with George W. Bush or Barack Obama or Bill Clinton, I will write about the actions of the Trump presidency with the working assum..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/benjamin-wittes-9097_barack-obama_in-a-way-i-never-did-with-george-w-bush_707995.jpg" --- # In a way I never did with George W. Bush or Barack Obama… ![“In a way I never did with George W. Bush or Barack Obama or Bill Clinton, I will write about the actions of the Trump presidency with the working assumption that our nation must be protected both by and from the president.” quote by Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/benjamin-wittes-9097_barack-obama_in-a-way-i-never-did-with-george-w-bush_707995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/benjamin-wittes-9097_barack-obama_in-a-way-i-never-did-with-george-w-bush_707995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/benjamin-wittes-9097_barack-obama_in-a-way-i-never-did-with-george-w-bush_707995.jpg) > “In a way I never did with George W. Bush or Barack Obama or Bill Clinton, I will write about the actions of the Trump presidency with the working assumption that our nation must be protected both by and from the president.” [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 nation must be defended both from and by the president’s power. **In simple terms:** Protect against misuse of authority. Key Takeaway Guard democracy from executive overreach. Themes government checks and balances presidential power Mood cautious critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - citizen education - legal advocacy Key Concepts constitutional law civic duty Questions to Reflect On - How should citizens hold leaders accountable? - What limits are appropriate for presidential power? A Different Perspective Balancing protection can conflict with executive efficiency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actions Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-trump-4414348/) [Barack obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack-obama/) [Clinton Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton-write-5591080/) [George w](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-w/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Presidency Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency-working-5591079/) [Protected President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protected-president-1556763/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Trump Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump-presidency/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [ I've never protected the president \[in real life\], but I have been a new dad, and I can tell you that being a new… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/i-ve-never-protected-the-president-in-real-life-but-i-have-been-a-new/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [I am emboldened, not cowed, by the words and actions of Trump and his circle. I believe many others are as well. Together we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-takei/i-am-emboldened-not-cowed-by-the-words-and-actions-of-trump-and-his/) [George Takei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-takei/) > [Through our deregulatory actions, the Trump Administration has proven that burdensome federal regulations are not necessary to drive environmental progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-r-wheeler/through-our-deregulatory-actions-the-trump-administration-has-proven/) [Andrew R. Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-r-wheeler/) > [Simply put, a Trump presidency is unthinkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/simply-put-a-trump-presidency-is-unthinkable/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [Trump will have to take up juggling if he goes ahead and scraps the agreement with Iran and at the same time, seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/trump-will-have-to-take-up-juggling-if-he-goes-ahead-and-scraps-the/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [“Sanders was unequivocal. A Donald Trump presidency was too dangerous a concept for third-party politics or protest votes. 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And I think, in many ways, the Trump presidency poses a clear and present danger to our country and to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-deeply-concerned-and-i-think-in-many-ways-the-trump-presidency/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Women likely are rejecting Trump because they know the presidential race isn't just about taxes or ISIL or immigration. It's about their place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-likely-are-rejecting-trump-because-they-know-the-presidential/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I think Trump's presidency represents a completely different model than what we're used to. And I think to your point, yes, he is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-clapper/i-think-trump-s-presidency-represents-a-completely-different-model/) [James R. Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-clapper/) > [A Trump presidency will plunge the United States into an era of unknowns that has little parallel in the nation's 240-year history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/a-trump-presidency-will-plunge-the-united-states-into-an-era-of/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) > [A Trump presidency feels as if we've crawled between the covers of a really crummy book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/a-trump-presidency-feels-as-if-we-ve-crawled-between-the-covers-of-a/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [The left's panic and politicization of the coronavirus is not unusual. It is the typical reaction for a party and a media hoping desperately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-left-s-panic-and-politicization-of-the-coronavirus-is-not-unusual/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [“virtually the entire senior staff and cabinet of the Trump presidency, past and present, had traveled through the stages of adventure, challenge, frustration, battle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/virtually-the-entire-senior-staff-and-cabinet-of-the-trump-presidency/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) ## More by Benjamin Wittes > [Reasonable people can disagree about the authorities the NSA should have, when it's appropriate for the CIA to use drone strikes, and how assertive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/reasonable-people-can-disagree-about-the-authorities-the-nsa-should/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [I'm a rationalist and a skeptic, someone who safely separates faith from reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/i-m-a-rationalist-and-a-skeptic-someone-who-safely-separates-faith/) [Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/) > [I'm an unabashed apologist for strong national-security authority. 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 Barack obama quotes > [In 2008, Barack Obama did a phenomenal job of reaching out to minority groups, to younger people, and a lot of newer voters, Hispanics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/in-2008-barack-obama-did-a-phenomenal-job-of-reaching-out-to-minority/) [George P. 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And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [“Been living on this earth for so long now and still don't know what a happy life feels like. I'm ready for a change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anthony-burkett/been-living-on-this-earth-for-so-long-now-and-still-don-t-know-what-a/) [Jonathan Anthony Burkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anthony-burkett/) > [“Attacking a lightning rod doesn't make you lightning..." Regarding Barack Obama”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-rafael-cimino/attacking-a-lightning-rod-doesn-t-make-you-lightning-regarding-barack/) [T. Rafael Cimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-rafael-cimino/) > [Tell me why the limousine fleet has increased by 42 percent since Barack Obama took office. Why are we spending taxpayers' money on that?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-neumann/tell-me-why-the-limousine-fleet-has-increased-by-42-percent-since/) [Mark Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-neumann/) > [Trudeau, like President Barack Obama, is a champion of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/trudeau-like-president-barack-obama-is-a-champion-of-change/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [There is the bipartisan pretense that the FBI is the only government agency in Washington that is above reproach. 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