Gregg Nunziata: “There is a supermajority of the people who will defend our system.”

Executive Director Gregg Nunziata spoke at NYU’s Law Forum, “All the President’s Men: The Realpolitik of Running the Government,” advocating for a principled balance between energetic executive power and constitutional restraints.

In a conversation with a bipartisan panel, Gregg asserted that Presidents should be empowered to discharge the duties of their office, but within the limits of the constitution and the rule of law. “We want us to be able to elect a president who can enact his agenda with faithful lieutenants, and that’s democratic. But we also don’t want a corrupt presidency.” He urged the Senate to exercise “advice and consent,” even when dissenting from a president of their own party. Congressional oversight is especially needed when mitigating any domestic use of the military. “The civil control of the military and the military’s removal from politics is just foundational to the American republic.” Simultaneously, Gregg cautioned that unelected government officials, including congressional staffers, must acknowledge their lack of a “certificate of election,” and refrain from reflexively undermining the President on all issues, regardless of merit.

As he engaged with panelists with different ideologies and differing political backgrounds, Gregg encouraged collaboration on constitutional issues that transcend political loyalties. “Please try, as you think about these problems, to separate out policies you don’t agree with from with actual threats to the system, big structural threats.” Although the United States may have sharp political divides, there is “a supermajority of people in this country who will defend our system if you invite them to the conversation.”

Watch the full panel here.