Compare and contrast the ideas of reform expressed by two of the three following presidents: ...

Answer: The ideal answer should mention some of the following:
1. Nothing symbolized Roosevelt's active presidency better than his popular reputation as a trust buster. For him, breaking up bad trusts was an assertion of government power that reassured a worried public and encouraged corporate responsibility.
2. As a conservationist, Roosevelt also wanted government to play a more active role in the care and management of the environment.
3. Taft continued Roosevelt's antitrust efforts, and even increased them. He supported the Mann-Elkins Act (1910), which extended the ICC's jurisdiction to telephone and telegraph companies.
4. Taft set aside even more public forest lands and oil reserves than Roosevelt had.
5. He also supported a constitutional amendment authorizing an income tax, which went into effect in
1913 under the Sixteenth Amendment. This was one of the most important accomplishments of the Progressive Era.
6. Wilson built on Roosevelt's precedent to strengthen executive authority.
7. But he wanted to limit the government's role to breaking up monopolies and preventing barriers like tariffs from blocking free enterprise.
8. Wilson endorsed the creation of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to oversee business activity and prevent illegal restrictions.