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Fact check: Has any US president ever attempted to establish monarchical rule?
1. Summary of the results
While no U.S. president has successfully established a formal monarchical system, there have been significant historical instances related to monarchical rule in America. The most direct attempt came not from a president but from Colonel Lewis Nicola, who explicitly proposed to George Washington that he become the nation's monarch - a proposal Washington firmly rejected [1]. During the Constitutional Convention, there was even a serious proposal to offer the American crown to Prince Henry of Prussia, though this was later withdrawn [1].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several presidents have been accused of exhibiting monarchical tendencies throughout U.S. history:
- Andrew Jackson was nicknamed "King Andrew the First" [2]
- Theodore Roosevelt earned the moniker "Theodore Rex" [2]
- Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms effectively made him president for life [2]
- Barack Obama faced similar accusations during his presidency [2]
A crucial modern context is that recent developments in presidential power have intensified these concerns. Specifically, a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity has been criticized for potentially transforming the presidency into an "elective kingship" [3].
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question oversimplifies a complex constitutional and historical issue. Multiple sources argue that the U.S. presidency has effectively functioned as an "elective monarchy" since its founding, with presidents wielding powers similar to monarchs [2]. This suggests that the distinction between presidential and monarchical power may be more nuanced than commonly understood.
The question of monarchical tendencies in the U.S. presidency benefits different groups in different ways:
- Political opposition: Benefits from characterizing incumbent presidents as monarchical to criticize expansive executive power
- Executive branch advocates: Benefit from defending strong presidential powers as necessary for effective governance
- Constitutional scholars: Benefit from ongoing debates about the nature of executive power and its limitations