Is Trump the first dictator president?

[Kingpoleon]

No. The only "Dictator Presidents" ever were FDR and Wilson. Technically Lincoln, Johnson, and Grant were "dictators" over parts of the South at times, but a civil war is far more understandable, in my opinion, than a world war.

[angus]

Interesting comments about Wilson and Roosevelt.  I think Roosevelt's scheme to change the size of the Supreme Court in order to get around the supreme court's early opposition to much of his program was radical (and dictatorial), but when there was no appetite in Congress for changing the court, he backed down.  He was maybe more of a wannabe dictator.  His economic agenda was approved by the congress precisely because both chambers largely agreed with his Keynesian approach.  Like Hitler, he never shook Jessie owens' hand, but that doesn't make him a dictator, does it?

Wilson is another matter.  He had a deep and abiding love of power.  I agree that you can call him a dictator, and a dictator was probably just what was needed at the time.  (You must remember that in his day, and frankly in Roosevelt's day as well, the term "dictator" did not carry the negative connotation that it does now.)

I'm not sure that we need a dictator now, or whether Trump will be one, but if he is, he will not have been the first.

[Person Man]

Interesting comments about Wilson and Roosevelt.  I think Roosevelt's scheme to change the size of the Supreme Court in order to get around the supreme court's early opposition to much of his program was radical (and dictatorial), but when there was no appetite in Congress for changing the court, he backed down.  He was maybe more of a wannabe dictator.  His economic agenda was approved by the congress precisely because both chambers largely agreed with his Keynesian approach.  Like Hitler, he never shook Jessie owens' hand, but that doesn't make him a dictator, does it?

Wilson is another matter.  He had a deep and abiding love of power.  I agree that you can call him a dictator, and a dictator was probably just what was needed at the time.  (You must remember that in his day, and frankly in Roosevelt's day as well, the term "dictator" did not carry the negative connotation that it does now.)

I'm not sure that we need a dictator now, or whether Trump will be one, but if he is, he will not have been the first.

I think that is why he will be criticized for going that direction more. He seems to be a dictator for just wanting to be one.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Obviously we've never had a dictator and still don't.  The hyperbole from the left is really off putting FYI.  Trump is bad enough with his actual bull sh**t, we don't need to make up crap to make him seem worse.

     I agree with this post. What's more, it was this absurd hyperbole that was an important factor in motivating me to vote for Trump. I don't care for much of what he says, but when everything the other side pumps out is distilled BS it does not endear me to their point of view.

[angus]

el caudillo