Posted on 08/02/2016 4:37:18 PM PDT by knarf
After his retirement, Coolidge gave several reasons for his decision, but one stands out. Coolidge suggested that it would be difficult to stay in office for too long without drinking too much of the Kool-Aid (to use a modern phrase)!
“It is difficult for men in high office to avoid the malady of self-delusion,” he observed. “They are always surrounded by worshipers. They are constantly, and for the most part sincerely, assured of their greatness. They live in an artificial atmosphere of adulation and exaltation which sooner or later impairs their judgment. They are in grave danger of becoming careless and arrogant.”
He concluded with a statement that showed that he, at least, was not there yet.
“While I had a desire to be relieved of the pretensions and delusions of public life, it was not because of any attraction of pleasure or idleness. We draw our Presidents from the people. It is a wholesome thing for them to return to the people. I came from them. I wish to be one of them again.”
What a guy! If only more people today had this attitude.
(Excerpt) Read more at taraross.com ...
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