Who was the most authoritarian U.S. President?

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Nixon.

At least among the Post-Civil War presidents. Wilson´s most authoritian phase corresponded with the time when he actually held very little power in Cabinet outside of foreign policy (and then he lost all power after his stroke). Blaming Palmer for the Red Scare insanity is more apt (though o/c alot more factors were at work).