Administration Quote by William Howard Taft
![“The truth is, the whole administration under Roosevelt was demoralized by the system of dealing directly with subordinates. It wasobviated in the State Department and the War Department under [Secretary of State Elihu] Root and me [Taft was the Secretary of War], because we simply ignored the…” quote by William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/723/william-howard-taft-3006_administration_the-truth-is-the-whole-administration-un_1662531.jpg)
“The truth is, the whole administration under Roosevelt was demoralized by the system of dealing directly with subordinates. It wasobviated in the State Department and the War Department under [Secretary of State Elihu] Root and me [Taft was the Secretary of War], because we simply ignored the interference and went on as we chose… The subordinates gained nothing by his assumption of authority, but it was not so in the other departments.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Administration, 1915
The administration suffered because leaders bypassed normal chains of command, causing demoralization and inefficiency.
In simple terms: Skipping hierarchy demoralized staff.
Key Takeaway
Respect proper chains of command.
Themes
leadership
bureaucracy
military
management
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- government
- military
- corporate management
- team projects
Key Concepts
authority
organizational structure
morale
Questions to Reflect On
- How does bypassing hierarchy affect morale?
- What safeguards can preserve proper authority?
A Different Perspective
Direct interference can undermine cohesion and effectiveness.
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