Diary entry (29 December 1848).
Context: No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure. If he entrusts the details and smaller matters to subordinates constant errors will occur. I prefer to supervise the whole operations of the government myself rather than entrust the public business to subordinates, and this makes my duties very great.
“All the public business in Congress now connects itself with intrigues, and there is great danger that the whole government will degenerate into a struggle of cabals.”
Journal entry (January 1819)
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John Quincy Adams 52
American politician, 6th president of the United States (in… 1767–1848Related quotes
1900s, First Annual Message to Congress (1901)
Context: The first essential in determining how to deal with the great industrial combinations is knowledge of the facts—publicity. In the interest of the public, the Government should have the right to inspect and examine the workings of the great corporations engaged in interstate business. Publicity is the only sure remedy which we can now invoke. What further remedies are needed in the way of governmental regulation, or taxation, can only be determined after publicity has been obtained, by process of law, and in the course of administration. The first requisite is knowledge, full and complete—knowledge which may be made public to the world. Artificial bodies, such as corporations and joint stock or other associations, depending upon any statutory law for their existence or privileges, should be subject to proper governmental supervision, and full and accurate information as to their operations should be made public regularly at reasonable intervals.
Source: "Science, values and public administration," 1937, p. 189
Notes for an oration at Braintree (Spring 1772)
1770s
Federalist No. 10
1780s, Federalist Papers (1787–1788)
1860s, Fourth of July Address to Congress (1861)
"Cox Office Shut On Nixon's Order" Oelsner, Lesley (October 21, 1973 : The New York Times), p. 60