On the evening of September 12, 2001, “White House officials finished draft legislation to authorize force and faxed it to Capitol Hill. The draft declared ‘that the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force’ against those linked to the attacks and to ‘preempt any related future acts of terrorism or aggression against the United States.’ Democrats like [Senate Majority Leader Tom] Daschle [SD] saw it as a blank check. Hurried negotiations ensued to find language that would satisfy both sides.”
– Peter Baker, Days of Fire, Pages 135-136