--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the Commander-in-Chief of a nation…" description: "\"When the Commander-in-Chief of a nation finds it necessary to order employees of the government or agencies of the government to do things that would t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/ronald-reagan-119_able_when-the-commander-in-chief-of-a-nation_2901021.jpg" --- # When the Commander-in-Chief of a nation finds it necessary… ![“When the Commander-in-Chief of a nation finds it necessary to order employees of the government or agencies of the government to do things that would technically break the law, he has to be able to declare it legal for them to do that.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/ronald-reagan-119_able_when-the-commander-in-chief-of-a-nation_2901021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/ronald-reagan-119_able_when-the-commander-in-chief-of-a-nation_2901021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/ronald-reagan-119_able_when-the-commander-in-chief-of-a-nation_2901021.jpg) > “When the Commander-in-Chief of a nation finds it necessary to order employees of the government or agencies of the government to do things that would technically break the law, he has to be able to declare it legal for them to do that.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explains the need for a commander‑in‑chief to legally authorize otherwise illegal actions for national interests. **In simple terms:** Leaders may need to legalize otherwise illegal acts. Key Takeaway Balance authority with legal limits. Themes government law ethics Mood cautious thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy decisions - constitutional law Key Concepts executive power national security Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to bypass law? - How to ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Legal overrides risk abuse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Commander in chief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commander-in-chief/) [Commanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanders/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [you can always tell employees of the government by the total vacancy which occupies the space where most other people have faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/you-can-always-tell-employees-of-the-government-by-the-total-vacancy/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) > [It is only when there is the supervision and critical oversight from the people that the government will be in a position to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wen-jiabao/it-is-only-when-there-is-the-supervision-and-critical-oversight-from/) [Wen Jiabao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wen-jiabao/) > [Evil is a necessary part of the order of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/evil-is-a-necessary-part-of-the-order-of-the-universe/) [W. 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The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! 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