273: All the Presidents’ Vetoes: A Brief History of Saying No to Legislation

To veto or not to veto? That was the question President George
Washington wrestled with on this day in 1792.



In honor of that decision, and the precedent it set for
subsequent leaders, this week BackStory looks at presidential
vetoes through two periods in American history. First, Joanne
unpacks Washington’s complicated feelings about his first (and
only) veto. Then, Brian speaks with historian Jeffrey Engel about
how President Trump’s recent use of the veto pen fits into the
big picture of presidents saying ‘thanks, but no thanks.’

Image credit: President Donald Trump signs the first veto of his
presidency in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington,
March 15, 2019. Source: AP Images

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