March 5, 1947
The Senate resumed the consideration of the joint · resolution (H. J. Res. 27) , I proposing . an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the terms of office of the President. '
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
Mr. WILEY: Mr. President, I respectfully ask that the clerk read . the joint resolution to which I am about to address myself.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
The PRESIDENT pr-o tempore. · Without objection, th€ clerk will - ll read as re . quested. -
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- th€ The scans read: “the” (microfilm scan), “th€” (main scan)
- ll Only one scan has this word: “ll” (main scan)
The Chief Clerk read the joint resolution (H. J. Res. 27) as proposed to be amended, . as follows:
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds ot each House concurring therein), That the follow- · ing article is hereby proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United . States , which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of , the Cons . Constitution when ratified by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution. ··
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- ot The scans read: “of” (microfilm scan), “ot” (main scan)
' "ARTICLE- .
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
' 'SECTION 1. A person Who has held -the office · of President, or acted as President, on 365 calendar days or more in each of two _ terms shall not be eligible to hold the office of President, or to act as President, for any part of another term; but this article shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President or acting as Presid e nt during the term · within which this art i cle becomes operative from holding the Office of Pre · President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- _ Only one scan has this word: “_” (main scan)
- Presid e The scans read: “President” (microfilm scan), “Presid e” (main scan)
- nt Only one scan has this word: “nt” (main scan)
- art i The scans read: “article” (microfilm scan), “art i” (main scan)
- cle Only one scan has this word: “cle” (main scan)
- Pre Only one scan has this word: “Pre” (main scan)
1 connection
- quotes Amendment XXII, Section 1 (suggested)
"SEc. 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have · been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as . provided in the Constitution, within 7 years . from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress . "
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
1 connection
- quotes Amendment XXII, Section 2 (suggested)
Mr. WILEY. Mr. President, in view of the fact that my remarks will be brief, I respectfully request that I may pursue the tenor o.f my statement without interruption until I complete it, and then I shall be very happy to respond to any inquiry or any comments.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
I should like to present the various rea-sons as I see them for enactment of the pending joint resolution; but before I do so, I should like to make this point:
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- so, The scans read: “se,” (microfilm scan), “so,” (main scan)
RESOLuTION ABOVE PERSONALITIES
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
This resolution should be considered apart from discussion of the personality of the late President Roosevelt. It is not intended as a criticism of him, and prejudices for or against him should not be considered. We should be taking t _ his step in terms of what the American people need in the future and should not be misled by bitter feelings of one kind or another of the past. · ·
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- _ Only one scan has this word: “_” (main scan)
- his The scans read: “this” (microfilm scan), “his” (main scan)
What a r e the _ reasons for this resolution? It might be noted at the outset that it has already been approved, in substance, on February 6 by a vo t e of 285 to 121 in the House of Repres-entatives, including the favorable votes of 238 Republicans and 47 Democrats-22 percent of the total Democratic votes ca s t.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- a r The scans read: “are” (microfilm scan), “a r” (main scan)
- _ Only one scan has this word: “_” (main scan)
- vo t The scans read: “vote” (microfilm scan), “vo t” (main scan)
- ca s The scans read: “cast.” (microfilm scan), “ca s” (main scan)
MAKING FORMAL AN AMERICAN CUSTOM
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
First. The · resolution merely puts into writing · in the Constitution a custom which the American people have ob' served throughout their history prior to President Roosevelt's tenure. This cus- tom originated with the - Unforgettable Farewell Address of our first President, George Washington, on September 19, 1796, in which he stated his refusal to be a candidate for a third term.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
DANGER OF . DICTATORSHIP
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
Second. Too-long occupancy of the Presidential office and too-long continuance of the same administration always . make for danger of dictatorship. Power c ' orrupts even when it is iii ' the hands of angels . . I quote the words in 1932 of the late President Roosev-elt himself, who, in turn, quoted President Calvin Coolidge, ~Mlli~: . For one reason or another ; even a wisely led political party, given a long enough tenure of office, ~ . finally fails , to express . any longer the will of the people;- and when it does so fail to express ' the will . of the ' people, it ceases to be an effective ir . strument of government. It is far better for such a political party-and _ certainly better for the state-that it should be . relegated to the role of the critic, and that the opposing political party should assume the reins of government. This condition appears to have arrived in America.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- orrupts The scans read: “corrupts” (microfilm scan), “orrupts” (main scan)
- ~Mlli~: The scans read: “as” (microfilm scan), “~Mlli~:” (main scan)
- . The scans read: “follows:” (microfilm scan), “.” (main scan)
- ~ Only one scan has this word: “~” (main scan)
- strument The scans read: “irstrument” (microfilm scan), “strument” (main scan)
- _ The scans read: “cer-” (microfilm scan), “_” (main scan)
That is the ~ statement of President Coolidge as quoted by President Roose .. velt. Then Mr. Roosevelt went on to say: That, my friends, is the sober conclusion of a cautious P.Ublic . man, not long ago President of the United States—Calvin Coolidge. With every word of iti heartily agree. · ·
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- ~ Only one scan has this word: “~” (main scan)
- .. Only one scan has this word: “..” (main scan)
TEM · TEMPTATION TO OB!tAIN ADDITIONAL TERMS
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- TEM Only one scan has this word: “TEM” (main scan)
Third. If we do not enact this resolu .. tion, there will be constant temptation to Presidential incumbents to attempt to achieve a third and a fourth term.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- .. Only one scan has this word: “..” (main scan)
EASE OF RENOMINATION OF INCUMBENT
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
Fourth. When any man occupies the C Presidential office, there is always a · · certain reluctance .in . his party not to n-ominate him for another · term. It is the President, of course, who is the head of his party, and who, through disposition · of a large number of jobs, can win the allegiance of many members of the party, Thus, he has an inside track on nomination for a third and fourth term.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
POSSIBLE CREATION OF E M ERGENCIES BY INCUMBENT
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- M ERGENCIES The scans read: “EMERGENCIES” (microfilm scan), “M ERGENCIES” (main scan)
Fifth. It has been argued that the people's hands should not be tied so that, .in case of an emergency, a President can be reelected to office. This argument ignores the fact that a President can create an emergency and thus create reasons for his continuance _ in . office.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1680). View the page image
- _ Only one scan has this word: “_” (main scan)
We have found, too, that no · civilian and no military man is indispensable in any em e rgency. Throughout the Second World War, we saw countle s s instances of comm an ders replaced without any adverse effect to the outcome of battles in any p art icular area.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1681). View the page image
- em Only one scan has this word: “em” (main scan)
- e rgency. The scans read: “emergency.” (microfilm scan), “e rgency.” (main scan)
- countle s The scans read: “countless” (microfilm scan), “countle s” (main scan)
- comm an The scans read: “commanders” (microfilm scan), “comm an” (main scan)
- ders Only one scan has this word: “ders” (main scan)
- art icular The scans read: “particular” (microfilm scan), “art icular” (main scan)
STI M ULATING MULTIPLE LEADERSHIP
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1681). View the page image
- STI Only one scan has this word: “STI” (main scan)
- M ULATING The scans read: “STIMULATING” (microfilm scan), “M ULATING” (main scan)
S i xth. When we guarantee that no ind i v i dual will occupy the Presidential offi c e for more than two terms, we serve to encour a ge political leadership in other indivi d uals. We assure a constant replacement of new blood into important po s it i ons in political parties. Every President always has with him a certain group of followers who . tend to become smug and complacent in their positions when they, like the Chief Executive, . occupy those positions too long. They tend to promote only their own cohorts and to freeze other leadership talent out.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1681). View the page image
- i xth. The scans read: “Sixth.” (microfilm scan), “i xth.” (main scan)
- i dual The scans read: “dividual” (microfilm scan), “i dual” (main scan)
- offi c The scans read: “office” (microfilm scan), “offi c” (main scan)
- encour a The scans read: “encourage” (microfilm scan), “encour a” (main scan)
- ge Only one scan has this word: “ge” (main scan)
- indivi d The scans read: “individuals.” (microfilm scan), “indivi d” (main scan)
- uals. Only one scan has this word: “uals.” (main scan)
- po Only one scan has this word: “po” (main scan)
- i ons The scans read: “positions” (microfilm scan), “i ons” (main scan)
Through this resolution, we will be helping to assure a full supply of constantly new talent for leadership of the Nation.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (p. 1681). View the page image