My letter is to simply call attention to a viewpoint put forth by one of our great progressive presidents, Republican Theodore Roosevelt, who is considered to be one of the top five presidents to ever hold that office.

The editorial was originally published in The Kansas City Star on May 7, 1918. I think the editorial speaks for itself, through the mind of a great American citizen.

President Roosevelt’s message:

“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about this than about any one else.”

– Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president (1858-1919)

Roger W. Addor
Scarborough

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