Clinton on "abuse of power" by American presidents

This afternoon, the "Discovery Times" channel showed a program entitled "Decisions That Shook the World: FDR and World War II." At one point the show details FDR's secret wiretapping program (that defied Congress and the Supreme Court) and how he created ways to circumvent American laws preventing him from sending weapons to any nation at war. Shortly thereafter, the program shows part of an interview with Bill Clinton.

In light of recent controversies I found the following statement by Clinton interesting.

Roosevelt was pretty close to the edge of the law a couple of times. But, it didn't constitute an abuse of power. An abuse of power is when a president violates the letter and the spirit of the law for some narrow, mean ends or to increase his own position or unfairly damage someone else. Roosevelt was trying to save America and freedom.