Chapter 04
Roosevelt’s New Deal as Slogans

II. “The Progressive View of History”

Starting with Roosevelt’s New Deal, the ideas of the American progressive left increasingly gained dominance, marking a turning point away from the foundational principles on which the United States was established.

Beginning with President Woodrow Wilson’s administration, the “progressive view of history” embraced by Americans diverged fundamentally from the constitutional vision held by the nation’s Founding Fathers — in essence, they represented two different conceptions of liberty.

For example, the Founders placed emphasis on procedure, not outcomes.

They believed that a perfect society was unattainable — it was a dream that imperfect human beings could never realize. However, what could be offered was the opportunity for individuals to exercise their inherent rights to pursue wealth and personal happiness according to their talents. The result might be clear social differences, but strict adherence to due process would ensure that everyone had a fair chance.

The American Founders believed in limiting the powers of government in order to protect individual rights. They were deeply skeptical of human nature, and in their historical worldview, there was no such thing as good intentions.

Constitutionalists believe that, compared to the government, taxpayers are better stewards of their own money. They emphasize loyalty to procedure, adherence to rules, and the importance of duty and integrity. The consistent application of rules means that people know what to expect and how to plan their affairs and lives. Honest leaders help establish institutional continuity and serve as role models for others.

From the constitutionalist perspective, the President should avoid speaking of utopias, and instead act in accordance with the system, bound by the obligations of the office, and set a good example. This enables millions of Americans to make their own economic choices and follow the laws of supply and demand, rather than empowering a small group of decision-makers to set prices and manage production according to what they believe serves the “public interest.”

Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt’s style of “progressive historical view” was quite different. They believed that outcomes mattered more than procedures. In their view, the only result of the separation of powers was the creation of an unaccountable government. What America needed, they argued, was a strong executive branch that could implement public policy in the name of the public interest. To them, the President was not merely an administrator but a leader of opinion — ‘the spokesperson for the nation’s true stance and goals.” The country needed ‘someone who better reflected the will of the people,” someone who understood the needs of the era and of the nation.

These progressives held unrealistic illusions about the ability of the president — or a small group of government officials — to use the power of government to create a better life for Americans and to safeguard civil liberties. They believed that fulfilling such responsibilities necessarily required an expansion of government, taxing some citizens in order to provide benefits to others.

To them, outcomes mattered more than procedures, intentions outweighed rights, and planning was valued more than experience.