Wilson, the Decider

Good question. When did Americans lose sight of the limited role the Constitution gives the Executive? By my read of it, the Constitution empowers the President to be an executor of others' decisions, not to be a "decider." Probably I just don't read well.

Even before the New Deal and Cold War secrecy (and the ensuing tradition of Presidents introducing legislative agendas upon election, or of claiming extensive powers for reasons of national security), the presidency played a nontrivial role in forming legislation - remember that the Constitution grants the President veto powers:

"Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approves, he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it... Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill."

If you wanted bright lines between legislatures and executives, the American system is not it.

As far as I'm concerned the world does not contain enough bile and hatred to give Woodrow Wilson what he deserves, but I can't say that he's wrong about this. If you want a large active government, it can't be run by committee anymore than any other large active organization. Of course, the wisdom of such a government is another question entirely.