Could a President of questionable character take absolute power?

[Lincoln Republican]

Let me be clear, this is not about any Presidential candidate past or present.

Let's suppose a candidate with unbounded ambition and questionable character is elected President of the United States.

Could this President pull off a successful coup and take absolute control?

Here is how I see it happening.

After becoming President, he installs hiw own loyal generals, with their loyalty only to him, in all the key military leadership positions.  He also installs absolute loyalists to all the cabinet positions. 

He then tells the nation America faces a grave danger of falling to Islamist fundamentalists, and that only strong leadership, free of partisan bickering, will save the nation.

The President then proceeds to have the military arrest the Vice President, all the members of the U.S. Senate, all the members of the U.S. House of Representatives, he suspends the U.S. Supreme Court, and then suspends the constitution.

The President then declares himself President For Life, with absolute power.

Could something like this ever happen?

Please discuss.

[Lincoln Republican]

After becoming President, he installs hiw own loyal generals, with their loyalty only to him, in all the key military leadership positions.  He also installs absolute loyalists to all the cabinet positions.  This has happened already, to a certain extent.

He then tells the nation America faces a grave danger of falling to Islamist fundamentalists, and that only strong leadership, free of partisan bickering, will save the nation. Again, happened.



Please discuss.

Nope

Happened already?  Again, happened?

Could you please elaborate or explain?

[Lincoln Republican]

OK, thank you.

But, FDR tried to pack the U.S. Supreme Court.  Highly unconstitutional.

That smacks of authoritarianism.

[Lincoln Republican]

OK, thank you.

But, FDR tried to pack the U.S. Supreme Court.  Highly unconstitutional.

That smacks of authoritarianism.

I won't argue that it smacked of authoritarianism, but there's nothing in the Constitution that says how many Justices the Court should have.  FDR's plan to expand the Court from nine Justices to fifteen and allow FDR to pick the extra six was highly unorthodox, but not unconstitutional.

Yes, now that you mention it, I do remember reading about the constitutionality of this move, however, FDR's plan met with stiff opposition even from Democrats, and never since has a President ever tried to change the size of the Court.