Picture of Health
Some U.S. presidents have gone to great lengths to hide their physical and mental illnesses. Is that kind of deception necessary—or even possible today?
Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, released 1,173 pages of personal medical records this week. Such candor in politicians is a recent development. Dr. Jerrold Post—director of the political psychology program at George Washington University and author of "Leaders and Their Followers in a Dangerous World" (Cornell University Press, 2004)—has studied the history of presidents and their health problems. He spoke with NEWSWEEK's Anne Underwood. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: John McCain has been candid about his health. Does that represent a break with the past?
Jerrold Post: There has been increasing pressure for candidates to reveal information that was once considered a personal matter. Today, you have to give up that privacy to run for the highest office.
But even in recent years, not all candidates have been that honest. I'm thinking of Sen. Paul Tsongas, who competed against Bill Clinton to be the Democratic nominee in 1992.
That was a cover-up. He indicated that he had had non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He and his doctor attested that, because of his bone-marrow transplant, his prognosis was as good as anyone else's. But at the time the statement was made, he had already had a recurrence of the cancer that wasn't made public. That kind of information needs to be revealed.
The public is demanding more information today. But are people also more forgiving, now that better treatments exist?
Yes and no. Part of the distinction has to do with what kind of illness it is. Dwight D. Eisenhower had a heart attack in 1955, an abdominal operation in 1956 and a stroke in 1957. People were sympathetic after the heart attack, because it was clear that it was mild and he would survive it. But the stroke, which temporarily affected his speech, raised the specter of a president who was unable to communicate. People look to their leaders for wisdom, strength and clarity of speaking.
What about cancer?
In France, François Mitterrand was an interesting example. When Mitterrand came to office, he swore that his would be an open presidency. But on his first day in office in 1981, he called in the presidential physician, Dr. Claude Gubler, and told him that his prostate cancer had spread to his bones. Mitterrand solemnly declared, "We must reveal nothing. These are state secrets." He led for 14 years with the constant and painful companion of metastatic cancer. How could that not have affected his decision making?
What about depression? There used to be such a stigma attached.
Depression is interesting. In 1924, just after Calvin Coolidge's nomination to a second term, his favorite son, Calvin Jr., developed a blister after playing tennis on the White House grounds without socks. He developed septicemia and died three days later [at the age of 16]. This was before antibiotics. Coolidge was called a do-nothing president, but it was probably as a consequence of a severe grief reaction from which he never recovered. After that, he spent 11 hours a day sleeping. His work day shrank. He was irritable and disinterested in affairs of state.
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Posted By: fan_chor-cheung @ 05/30/2008 3:54:03 AM
Comment: Father Day Reflection on Election Campaign 2008 :
Election 2008 is not a election but a decision for homecoming. Americans are on the crossroad of homecoming or to the abyss. They are currently facing Great Depression II and the only conscious solution is to repeat what they had done in the last Depression and emerged as a much stronger country. In the 1930s Americans were smart enough not to elect a politician as president but to return home to their parents, FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, who had nurtured them back to health and wealth. Today, we are facing the same dilemma, should Americans elect a radical politician who has given them empty promises? Or, to return home to their parents, John and Hillary? The choice is really quite simple. Obama and Black supporters reminisced wrestlers whose matches are pre-arranged and play by hitting under the belt theatrics causing economic downturn just to win. So, stop watching American games. Obama's white supporters are insulting their own race as incompetent and incapable of managing their own country . Whether Obama will be elected his "super delegates", who endorsed at other's expense, must be sentenced to live in Black neighborhoods for more than four years to find out what they are really like. The democratic governor of Oklahoma who had just endorsed Obama must be executed for causing their supernatural tornadoes. The communication media of the U. S. are circus clowns not worth commenting on because they have never given any honest election comments. American voters in general are "blind" to good judgement. Hillary Clinton, best American candidate in history, can be identified with a unspoiling mother who has wasted her own $10 million just to warn her stubborn and ignorance daughter not to date strangers in the street. John McCain who has shown the ability to set aside party differences for the common good, working relentless for the American by running on many elections and his decency has earned the trust of most Americans. Together as a team John and Hillary will carry Americans out of the current Great Depression. But will a good father send his children to early grave for a war that cannot be won? Obviously, our parents are much older than us but they have the experience we rely on and care we need. Happy Father Day!
Posted By: fan_chor-cheung @ 05/30/2008 3:50:06 AM
Comment: Father Day Reflection on Election Campaign 2008 :
Election 2008 is not a election but a decision for homecoming. Americans are on the crossroad of homecoming or to the abyss. They are currently facing Great Depression II and the only conscious solution is to repeat what they had done in the last Depression and emerged as a much stronger country. In the 1930s Americans were smart enough not to elect a politician as president but to return home to their parents, FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, who had nurtured them back to health and wealth. Today, we are facing the same dilemma, should Americans elect a radical politician who has given them empty promises? Or, to return home to their parents, John and Hillary? The choice is really quite simple. Obama and Black supporters reminisced wrestlers whose matches are pre-arranged and play by hitting under the belt theatrics causing economic downturn just to win. So, stop watching American games. Obama's white supporters are insulting their own race as incompetent and incapable of managing their own country . Whether Obama will be elected his "super delegates", who endorsed at other's expense, must be sentenced to live in Black neighborhoods for more than four years to find out what they are really like. The democratic governor of Oklahoma who had just endorsed Obama must be executed for causing their supernatural tornadoes. The communication media of the U. S. are circus clowns not worth commenting on because they have never given any honest election comments. American voters in general are "blind" to good judgement. Hillary Clinton, best American candidate in history, can be identified with a unspoiling mother who has wasted her own $10 million just to warn her stubborn and ignorance daughter not to date strangers in the street. John McCain who has shown the ability to set aside party differences for the common good, working relentless for the American by running on many elections and his decency has earned the trust of most Americans. Together as a team John and Hillary will carry Americans out of the current Great Depression. But will a good father send his children to early grave for a war that cannot be won? Obviously, our parents are much older than us but they have the experience we rely on and care we need. Happy Father Day!
Posted By: collegevoter @ 05/29/2008 4:55:39 AM
Comment: I'm under 30. And I don't have a problem with old presidents. I just have a problem with John McCain. His policies suck. Barack Obama's are better.
Again I like sick presidents: FDR, JFK, Ronald Reagan. Turned off the news when McCain realized his health records. Frankly don't care.