War and single-term presidents- A curse on the White House

LA Times ^ | 07-06-03 | Ed Stockly

[Brian S]

Call it the curse of the wartime president. Not a single U.S. president who has led the country into a major war has gone on to serve another full term in the White House. Not James Madison after the War of 1812. Not Woodrow Wilson after World War I.

Not Lyndon Johnson after Vietnam. And not George H.W. Bush, who won a popular war but was unable to win over everyday Americans a second time. Will the current President Bush, who is expected to raise record amounts of money in his re-election bid, be able to buck this long and curious trend in American history? Every president who has led this country into full-scale war has paid a heavy price politically and personally. Most chose not to run for re-election and, upon leaving office, saw their vision for America rejected by the voters, their party defeated and their rivals elected. Some left office with shattered reputations, fading into a marginalized obscurity and irrelevance. And the few who survived grueling re-election campaigns were swiftly cut down by illness or assassination.

Excerpt

[upchuck]

Leaving aside for a moment that the author is a moron who undoubtedly flunked USA History 101, methinks the curse is about to be broken.

Unless, of course, my fav Big Al beats Dubya in Nov 2004.

[Almondjoy]

I would have to assume that the writer meant what he said here. Led into war.. hmmm.. As I recall the good man FDR did not lead us to war. We were sucked into it. Now if you want to call Led into war our declaration on Germany.. that's up for debate. None the less we wouldn't of entered the war when we did if now for Pearl Harbor.

[Almondjoy]

I may be mistaken but I believe term limits were not in effect in 1812. Since I recall FDR getting a fair share over 8 years.

[NeoCaveman]

I may be mistaken but I believe term limits were not in effect in 1812.

There was no law but it was tradition not to serve more than eight years started by George Washington.

I believe TR was the first president to try for a third, after a four year break, and FDR was the first to be elected for a third term. Yes I know Cleveland tried three times but was elected only twice, trying for a second term successfully after a first failed attempt at it.

[weegee]

I guess that Bubba's wars weren't major enough. How many small wars does a president have to engage in to be tossed out?

[weegee]

This statistician still hasn't learned that history doesn't conform to such trivialities. Ronald Reagan survived the Zero factor too by not dying in office.

[Bon mots]

The zero factor.

You beat me to it. I remember all the liberals were squealing about it back in 1980. Ronald Reagan was supposed to die in office just as every President who was ever elected in a year ending in zero - died in office.

Liberals are such idiots.

[7DayRepo]

Here's some counterspin to this Times propaganda:

Every President who has chosen to run for another term after leading the country into a major war has been re-elected, except for G. H. W. Bush.