so (Hargrove 150). Then he again used covert actions to exercise his prerogatives when against United Stateslaw he bargained with terrorists to gain the release of hostages in Lebanon. While thepresident can get around this law by signing a waiver, he must notify the Congress whichReagan never did (Hargrove 150). This abuse of power is perhaps the worst violation ofdemocracy because how can the people decide the course of their country if they are notinformed about the presidents actions. By omitting unfavorable actions from pressconferences and speeches the president is able to avoid accountability, even if it is for ashort time. Without accountability the people have no control over the president and thusno control over the government. In which case the United States would stop functioningas a democracy. A presidents actions can help support the American democracy also. There aremany cases from recent presidencies when the president has followed the wishes of thepublic and informed the public about important state matters, even if it was not in thepresidents benefit to do so. In 1986 Reagan followed the desires of the public andpassed a sweeping tax reform (Hargrove 146). This was a hard fought battle for Reaganwho had to contend with the influential special interests that would be hurt by a tax cutfor the general public. By supporting this tax reform Reagan was special interests andmany members of Congress. He risked political and financial support in the process. Yet Reagans steadfastness proved that he was willing to support the American peoplesgoals and thus be working part of American democracy.Another example of a president working with the premises of democracy is seenin Roosevelts fireside chats. In 1933 when Roosevelt was instituting the Hundred Daysto help America recover from the Depression he went on the radio to explain his courseof action to the public (Hargrove 86). The course of action that Roosevelt was tak...
