A classic and well-documented example of a President using intimidation tactics on members of Congress is Lyndon B. Johnson's famous "Johnson Treatment."1
As a tall, physically imposing man, Johnson was known to use his size and personality to relentlessly persuade and intimidate legislators into supporting his bills, especially when he was Senate Majority Leader and later as President.2
The "Johnson Treatment"
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Physical Presence: Johnson would get uncomfortably close to a Congressman, sometimes leaning in or placing his hands on the person, completely invading their personal space.3
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Relentless Persuasion: The "Treatment" was a relentless barrage of flattery, hard bargaining, detailed knowledge of the legislator's background and needs, and occasionally veiled threats of political isolation or retribution.4
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Creating Discomfort: The sheer intensity and duration of the interaction were designed to make the legislator so uncomfortable that they would agree to Johnson's demands simply to escape the situation.
Many members of Congress and other officials recounted being subjected to this intense, often aggressive, and unforgettable form of political coercion.5 It was a recognized style of political persuasion that relied heavily on intimidation and personal pressure.6
Another well-known example of a President attempting to intimidate Congressmen, often by leveraging the power of government agencies, involves President Richard Nixon and his "Enemies List."
The Nixon Administration and the IRS
During the Watergate scandal investigation, it was revealed that President Nixon and his administration compiled a list of "political enemies," which included members of Congress, journalists, business executives, and celebrities who were critical of the President or his policies.
The primary tactic for intimidating these opponents was the misuse of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
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Targeting for Audits: The White House reportedly attempted to use the IRS to initiate tax audits and investigations against political opponents on the enemies list, including Congressmen. The goal was to harass, distract, and potentially uncover information that could be used to discredit or silence them.
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Abuse of Power: This attempt to weaponize a non-partisan federal agency to achieve political retribution is one of the most serious examples of a President using executive power to intimidate legislators and other critics.
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Congressional Reaction: The revelations of the "enemies list" and the attempts to misuse the IRS and other agencies (like the FBI) became key components of the impeachment proceedings against President Nixon for abuse of power and obstruction of justice.
While many IRS officials refused to carry out these improper requests, the attempt itself represents a significant, politically motivated effort to frighten and neutralize a sitting President's critics in Congress and the public.
Franklin D. Roosevelt and the "Court-Packing" Plan
In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) had won a massive electoral mandate for his New Deal programs aimed at combating the Great Depression. However, the conservative Supreme Court repeatedly struck down key New Deal legislation, such as the National Recovery Administration (NRA) and the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), as unconstitutional.
The Strategy of Intimidation
To overcome this judicial opposition, FDR proposed the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, which became known as the "Court-Packing Plan." The core of the plan was simple:
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The Threat: The bill proposed that the President could appoint an additional justice to the Supreme Court for every sitting justice over the age of 70 who did not retire (up to a maximum of six new justices).
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The Message to Congress: The clear, unmistakable threat to Congress was: "If you do not pass my legislation, I will change the Supreme Court to make sure it is passed." By forcing Congress to take a vote on expanding the Court, FDR was using the massive political pressure of his office and his popular mandate to demand that Congress choose between the judiciary's independence and the survival of the New Deal.
The Effect
While the bill ultimately failed in Congress due to a backlash against what was seen as an unconstitutional power grab, the political threat was immediately effective in another way—it arguably influenced the Supreme Court itself.
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"The Switch in Time that Saved Nine": Shortly after the bill was proposed, Justice Owen Roberts, a key swing vote, began siding with the liberal wing of the Court in two landmark decisions that upheld New Deal laws (most famously, the minimum wage case West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish).
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Congressional Awe: The fact that FDR was willing to propose such a radical change to overcome opposition served as a powerful intimidation tactic, demonstrating to Congressmen that he would use every tool at his disposal—including threats to the separation of powers—to get his agenda passed.
This example illustrates how a President can frighten Congress not just with personal or political threats, but with a direct challenge to the institutional balance of power.
