Someone on a legal list I read just asked for examples of “famous or historically important or particularly eloquent legal quotations” from recent American history for a collection he is compiling. I suggested the following:
I was thinking of a matched pair, starting with:
Richard Nixon: “I am not a crook.” [Time Magazine has nice linkable version.]Barack Obama: “I’m not the emperor of the United States. My job is to execute laws that are passed, and Congress right now has not changed what I consider to be a broken immigration system.”[2/14/2013, Quoted by Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler, 18 Nov. 2014]If you prefer the monarchical to the imperial version, Kessler also quotes the following:“I’m not a king. I am the head of the executive branch of government. I’m required to follow the law.” 1/31/13Obama has denied being king so often that a Freudian could no doubt have some fun. For example (quoted by politifact.com):“I am president, I am not king. I can’t do these things just by myself.” (2010, radio interview with Eddie Sotelo)“I’m not a king. You know, my job as the head of the executive branch ultimately is to carry out the law.” (2013)