President: How and Why the Founders Created a Chief Executive CHAPTER EIGHTWashington and the Challenge to Transcendent Leadership At the Federal Convention, Gouverneur Morris, pushing to shape an independent presidency, had suggested a subtle but highly significant change in wording. As of August 24, the working draft stated that the president “shall, from time to time, give information to the legislature, of the state of the Union,” and “may recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall deem necessary, and expedient.” Why only “may”? It should be the chief executive’s “duty” to make recommendations to Congress, Morris argued. To “prevent umbrage or cavil” when a president tried to initiate legislation, Morris moved to strike out the word “may,” and he had his way without debate. The impact of this small change was monumental. At Morris’s request, Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution states unequivocally that the president shall take a lead role in shaping public policy.
