SOME POTUS WERE A LITTLE "OFF"

The author F. Scott Fitzgerald once opened a story with, “the rich are very different from you and me.”  Lately, with all the craziness going on in national politics, I have begun to wonder if politicians are very different from you and me.

Why do men and women go into politics?  Supposedly, they are passionate  about helping people to have a better life.  That’s a worthy and very believable reason, but it seems you’d have to have an unusual amount of self confidence to think you would have the requisite personality traits and  abilities  to make great changes in society.  Somewhere along the way, someone helped them form this good opinion of themselves—whether it be a parent, grandparent, teacher, or someone very close to them.   So, that high self-esteem, wired into their brains,  makes them slightly outside the "normal" curve. Politicians also must have the intestinal fortitude to endure a lot of nasty attacks on their integrity,  appearance,  personal life,  ability to do the job,  and even their families.   Most of us don't have the stomach for all of that public criticism. 

Many presidents have been slightly “off.”  FDR hid his polio-withered legs from the public for years,  afraid that if people knew about his disability, they would never vote for him. Richard Nixon was paranoid and had an alcohol problem.   JFK seduced White House interns and slept with mafia call girls.   Lyndon Johnson sat on the toilet while talking with reporters , and was feared for his dark moods. Jimmy Carter acted more like a preacher than a president. Bill Clinton had a bit of a sex addiction problem.  Now we have Donald Trump who behaves more like a medieval monarch that an elected official. And yet, in spite of their eccentricities and mental health problems, many politicians such as Abe Lincoln and Winston Churchill became great leaders.

Some presidents, like Harry Truman, had modest resources and no doubt were grateful for the perks, pension, and income  provided by public office.  Power, prestige  and money could  motivate many a politician.  But what about those who are already rich?  Someone like Romney? Is he a saint, or on an ego trip.  I have no idea what makes these people tick.    All I know is that something beyond the “normal” curve propels politicians  into the stratosphere, seeking  public office in places where angels fear to tread.