Ron Elving

There was a sense Trump was testing the boundaries and trying all the locks on the Constitutional House at once.

There was a sense Trump was testing the boundaries and trying all the locks on the Constitutional House at once.

There was a sense Trump was testing the boundaries and trying all the locks on the Constitutional House at once.

Not at the moment, although the margins in both chambers are historically slim. All presidents have used executive orders, at least at times, and often at critical times. It's fast. It creates an impression of action and change and effectiveness, but only for a time, and only if the various orders survive court challenges and other forms of pushback.

Not at the moment, although the margins in both chambers are historically slim. All presidents have used executive orders, at least at times, and often at critical times. It's fast. It creates an impression of action and change and effectiveness, but only for a time, and only if the various orders survive court challenges and other forms of pushback.

Not at the moment, although the margins in both chambers are historically slim. All presidents have used executive orders, at least at times, and often at critical times. It's fast. It creates an impression of action and change and effectiveness, but only for a time, and only if the various orders survive court challenges and other forms of pushback.

When you go around Congress for short-term success, you risk a reckoning that can have longer-lasting effects.

When you go around Congress for short-term success, you risk a reckoning that can have longer-lasting effects.

When you go around Congress for short-term success, you risk a reckoning that can have longer-lasting effects.

Trump sent firing notices to a dozen of these last night, some of whom are people he himself appointed in his first term. And it's unclear what the legal effect of this will be. As the law says, Congress has to get 30 days notice in advance. And obviously that didn't happen.

Trump sent firing notices to a dozen of these last night, some of whom are people he himself appointed in his first term. And it's unclear what the legal effect of this will be. As the law says, Congress has to get 30 days notice in advance. And obviously that didn't happen.

Jimmy Carter left the White House in defeat in January 1981, handing the keys to the man who had defeated him, Ronald Reagan. But in a post-presidential career that spanned nearly four decades, Carter set a new standard for achievement by a former chief executive. He founded the nonprofit Carter Center in 1982 and oversaw its many peacekeeping and hunger relief missions in more than 80 countries.

Jimmy Carter left the White House in defeat in January 1981, handing the keys to the man who had defeated him, Ronald Reagan. But in a post-presidential career that spanned nearly four decades, Carter set a new standard for achievement by a former chief executive. He founded the nonprofit Carter Center in 1982 and oversaw its many peacekeeping and hunger relief missions in more than 80 countries.

Among his international accolades, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He remained active while fighting liver and brain cancer in his later years, still teaching Sunday school classes and building houses with Habitat for Humanity in his 90s. Ron Elving, NPR News, Washington.

Among his international accolades, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He remained active while fighting liver and brain cancer in his later years, still teaching Sunday school classes and building houses with Habitat for Humanity in his 90s. Ron Elving, NPR News, Washington.