I can't take credit for the following article. It came from a forwarded email and the original author's name has been lost in a long progression of cut-and-paste. But let me begin with a forward recounting a story about President George H.W. Bush.
In August 1990, a Utah-based consultant was invited to meet with President George H.W. Bush at the family property in Kennebunkport, ME. The consultant was invited to bring his wife and their children. Upon arrival the family was escorted to the swimming pool where President Bush was enjoying an iced tea while awaiting his guests. Following a plane trip and long car ride to Kennebunkport the children were antsy. President Bush and the First Lady invited them to change into their swimming suits and jump in the pool. The children were excited to swim, with the exception of the couple's 5-year-old daughter who tugged at the President's pant leg and whispered in his ear. President Bush replied,
"It's through that door, down the hallway, second door on the . . ."
As the President looked into the child's face he could see her confusion, frustration, and the dancing from foot-to-foot.
"Oh, nevermind." Said the President as he took the girl's hand and gave her a warm smile, "I'll show you where it is." As he led her to the bathroom in the residence.
This to me is an illustration of people who recognize the Presidency is to serve the People of the United States, not to be served by them. Unfortunately the following excerpts from Kessler's book will show Democrats in the White House saw themselves as royalty without regard for the People, while Republicans held office out of a love of Country and a respect for its People.
A final note: when coins were to be minted for the fledgling United States of America samples were brought to President George Washington. Those which bore his likeness were summarily dismissed by Washington with the admonition, "Do not put my face upon the coins of This Nation. I am not a king."
President John Kennedy (D)
"A philanderer of the highest order."
"She [Jacqueline Kennedy] ordered the kitchen help to save all the left-over wine during a State dinner, mixed it with fresh wine and served again during the next White House occasion."
President Lyndon Johnson (D)
 |
| "It's good for him. And, if you've ever followed dogs, you like to hear them yelp." -- Actual quote from LBJ. |
"Another philanderer of the highest order. In addition, LBJ was as crude as the day is long. Both JFK and LBJ kept a lot of women in the White House for extramarital affairs and both had set up early warning systems to alert them if/when their wives were nearby. Both were promiscuous and oversexed men."Lyndon Baines Johnson could be extremely abusive to his aides, even to the Secret Service officers sworn to defend him with their lives. Once, while driving across a field at the LBJ Ranch in Texas, Johnson stopped to
"She was either naive or just pretended to not know about her husband's many liaisons."
relieve himself. According to one historian,
"One of the Secret Service men standing near him 'felt warm water on his leg.' He looked down and said, 'Mr. President, you are urinating on me.' Johnson's response, 'I know I am... it's my prerogative.'"
President Richard Nixon (R)
"A 'moral' man but very odd, weird, [and] paranoid. He had a horrible relationship with his family and was almost a recluse."
"She [Pat Nixon] was quiet most of the time."
Gerald Ford (R)
"A true gentlemen who treated the Secret Service with respect and dignity. He had a great sense of humor."
"She [Betty Ford] drank a lot!"
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter (D)
"A complete phony who would portray one picture of himself to public and very different in private: e.g., would be shown carrying his own luggage but the suitcases were always empty. He kept empty ones just for photo ops. He wanted people to see him as pious and a non-drinker but he and his family drank alcohol a lot! He had disdain for the Secret Service and was very irresponsible with the "football" [carrying] nuclear codes. He didn't think it was a big deal and would keep military aides at a great distance. Often did not acknowledge the presence of Secret Service personnel assigned to serve him."
"She [Rosalyn] mostly did her own thing."
Ronald Reagan (R)
"The real deal, moral, honest, respectful and dignified. They treated Secret Service and everyone else with respect and honor, thanked everyone all the time. He took the time to know everyone on a personal level. One favorite story was early in his Presidency when he came out of his room with a pistol tucked on his hip. The agent in charge asked: "Why the pistol, Mr. President?" He replied, "In case you boys can't get the job done, I can help." It was common for him to carry a pistol. When he met with Gorbachev, he had a pistol in his briefcase."
"She [Nancy] was very nice but very protective of the President and the Secret Service was often caught in the middle. She tried hard to control what he ate. He would say to the agent, "Come on, you gotta help me out." The Reagans drank wine during State dinners and special occasions only otherwise they shunned alcohol. The Secret Service could count on one hand the times they were served wine during family dinner. For all the fake bluster of the Carters, the Reagans were the ones who lived life as genuinely moral people."
George H.W. Bush (R)
"Extremely kind and considerate, always respectful. Took great care in making sure the agents' comforts were taken care of. They even brought them meals. One time she brought warm clothes to agents standing outside at Kennebunkport. One was given a warm hat and, when he tried to say, "No thanks," even though he was obviously freezing, the President said "Son, don't argue with the First Lady. Put the hat on." He was the most prompt of the Presidents. He ran the White House like a well-oiled machine."
"She [Barbara] ruled the house and spoke her mind."
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (D)
"Presidency was one giant party. Not trustworthy. He was nice mainly because he wanted everyone to like him but to him life is just one big game and party. Everyone knows about his sexuality."
"She is another phony. Her personality would change the instant cameras were near. She hated with open disdain the military and Secret Service. She was another who felt people were there to serve her. She was always trying to keep tabs on Bill Clinton."
One [Secret Service] agent, who politely explained to Mrs. Clinton that his duties did not include toting suitcases from their airplane to their limo, was shocked when she replied, "If you want to remain on this detail," get your fucking ass over here and grab those bags."
Bonus: Albert "Al" Gore (D), Bill Clinton's Vice President
"An egotistical ass who was once overheard [by his Secret Service detail] lecturing his son that he needed to, 'Do better in school or he would end up like these guys.', pointing to the agents."
George W. Bush (R)
"The Secret Service loved him and Laura Bush. He was also the most physically in shape who had a very strict workout regimen. The Bushes made sure their entire administrative and household staff understood that they were to respect and be considerate of the Secret Service."
"She was one of the nicest First Ladies, if not the nicest. She never had any harsh word to say about anyone."
Barack Hussein Obama (D)
"Clinton all over again - hates the military and looks down on the Secret Service. He is egotistical and cunning. He looks you in the eye and appears to agree with you but turns around and does the opposite. He has temper tantrums."
"She [Michelle] is a complete bitch who basically hates anybody who is not black, hates the military and looks at the Secret Service as servants."
I have no dog in this fight, but I appreciate a great book. You can find Ronald Kessler's book here.
Another good read is Jack Valenti's This Time, This Place about his rise from local marketing in Texas for Lyndon Johnson to his establishment of the MPAA. You can purchase it here.
