Abraham lincoln Quote by William Lee Miller
“Abraham Lincoln did not contend that his actions were immune from Congressional correction; on the contrary, he specifically said he was acting beyond the present provisions in the expectation that congress would retroactively approve, which they did. He did not say anything like Richard Nixon: if the president does it is legal.”
About This Quote
Lincoln acknowledged acting beyond existing law, expecting Congress to legitimize his actions later, unlike Nixon’s claim that presidential will alone makes actions legal.
In simple terms: Lincoln sought retroactive approval; Nixon claimed unilateral legality.
Key Takeaway
Legal authority can be retroactively granted.
Themes
History
Law
Politics
Executive power
Mood
Analytical
Serious
Type
Historical analysis
Political commentary
When to use this quote
- Presidential decision‑making
- Congressional oversight
- Legal education
Key Concepts
Constitutional interpretation
Practical Applications
- Document intent for future legislative endorsement
- Establish clear checks on executive actions
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards prevent abuse of retroactive legitimation?
- How does this approach affect public trust?
A Different Perspective
Relying on retroactive approval can undermine rule of law and create uncertainty.
![“My movies more often are told through pictures, not words. But in this case, the pictures took second position to the incredible words of Abraham Lincoln and his presence [...] I was less interested in an outpouring of imagery than in letting the most human moment of this story evolve before us.” quote by Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be7/steven-spielberg-963_abraham_my-movies-more-often-are-told-through-pi_136993.jpg)
