“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
In 1789, George Washington uttered these very words while placing his left hand on the Bible and raising his right hand. When he said the thirty-five words that confirmed his presidency, he softly kissed the Bible and solemnly said, “So help me God.” The first inauguration set the foundation for a long-lasting tradition. Throughout American history, all forty-five presidents said the same words before entering the Oval Office. Even though the past presidents may have moral or legal qualms with preceding or incumbent presidents, even though they believe in different ways of governing, even though they disagree on faith and politics, they believe in a singular goal; the preservation of the Constitution.
In 2015, the Business Insider stated Barak Obama was the most powerful and influential person in the world. They wrote, “President Barack Obama presides over the world’s most influential country, giving him unparalleled responsibility and power.” Later, in 2018, an article by Forbes claimed the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were more powerful than Trump. They reported Trump’s weak appearance on the World Stage caused him to lose international power. Regardless, I still believe the United States President is the most powerful person in the world.
The United States President holds extreme levels of power and an equal amount of responsibility. First, one of the largest obligations the President has is to act as the Commander-in-Chief of the American military. Which is composed of 1.3 million troops deployed around the world, 6,800 commissioned and decommissioned nuclear weapons, and a 639 billion dollars budget making it the largest military in the world. Furthermore, America spends more on military than the next seven countries combined casting a vast nuclear umbrella over the Western Hemisphere. While the President himself cannot declare war, he has unilateral authority to use nuclear weapons anywhere at any time.
Within the executive branch, there are 1,869 people that directly report to the President. The Chief of Staff manages the flow of information, coordinates with Congress, protects the interest of the President, and informs staff members. These members include the Press Secretary, Attorney General, National Security Advisor, personal advisors, secretaries, assistants, and an entire team of lawyers. The presidential cabinet consists of 15 members. Along with the Vice President, the members are the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs. Every member is the head of their respected departments and has thousands of people reporting to them.
The President also has power in Congress and in the Supreme Court. In the Senate, he can sign or veto any bill passed by Congress. He can convene or adjourn meetings in the Senate and the House. He schedules meetings with the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the House to discuss policies and to compromise on bills. In the Judicial Branch, he can nominate Supreme Court Justices. Under Article II, Section 2, the President has the executive authority to pardon or reprieve federal convictions. Under federal indictments or impeachment hearings, he has the legal capacity to exert executive privilege which is to withhold information from the public interest. On the World Stage, he can nominate United States Ambassadors to the United Nations and the European Union. The President can also write treaties regarding foreign policy or military action. Because the United States is a charter and permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, it has tremendous influence over other nation’s ambassadors.
Obviously, this is an oversimplification of the President’s power. It would take months to write a vague summation of his capabilities. However, one can conclude that the President is one of the most, if not, the most powerful person in the world. As the 2020 election approaches, voters must ask themselves, who will properly fulfill the duties of the highest office in the land? Who will persevere and enforce the principles of the Constitution? Who will take the presidential oath with the utmost respect and honor? Because, in reality, the office requires the President to exemplify civil servitude to the American people. That he must serve at their behest and not pander to an alternative agenda. That he must demonstrate a sense of maturity and professionalism when faced with moral and legal dilemmas. That in times of internal hardships and ethical turmoil, he must stand as the leader of the nation. While Presidents in the past have been corrupt, deceptive, criminals, and traitors, the presidency will always remain pure. For when pandemonium ensues, there will be voices of righteous indignation reminding the American government they are for the people, by the people, and of the people.
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