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Working with U.S. Presidents - Hail to the Chief

"The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America..." 
-- United States Constitution, Article II, Section 1.

The United States Constitution created the office of the president in 1787, and George Washington took office two years later as the nation's first chief executive. At first, the Constitution gave the President only a few specified powers, including the role of commander in chief, the authority to make treaties, and the power to grant pardons and nominate judges.  While those powers have changed and expanded since 1789, one of the president's most important roles was and continues to be that of working with Congress to pass legislation.

Since his election to Congress in 1970, Congressman Young has often worked with the president or other members of the executive branch in order to advocate the needs of Pinellas County.  He has enjoyed working relationships with Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.

As chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Young has worked especially closely with Presidents Clinton and Bush during negotiations over each year's federal budget. Since the events of September 11, he has visited the White House many times to meet with President Bush in the Oval Office.

• Visit the White House.

• Tour the Smithsonian Institution's exhibit on The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden.

• View presidential portraits at the National Portrait Gallery's Hall of Presidents.

• Read each president's Inaugural Address.

• Read Congressman Young's tribute to President Ronald W. Reagan.