The Presidents of the United States of America (politics)/Quotes

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    In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre -- the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum.
    The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

    —H. L. Mencken, in the column "Bayard vs. Lionheart" published in the Baltimore Evening Sun on 26 July 1920[1]

    A Galileo could no more be elected president of the United States than he could be elected Pope of Rome. Both high posts are reserved for men favored by God with an extraordinary genius for swathing the bitter facts of life in bandages of self-illusion.

    —H. L. Mencken

    In American, anyone can become president. That's one of the risks you take.

    —Adlai Stevenson

    Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make President.

    —Kelvin Throop

    Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.

    "If the President does it, that means it is not illegal."

    —Richard M. Nixon

    Murphy's Discovery: Do you know Presidents talk to the country the way men talk to women? They say, "Trust me, go all the way with me, and everything will be all right." And what happens? Nine months later, you're in trouble!

    "I am Millard Fillmore, thirteenth president of the United States, American Samurai."

    Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.

    —Gore Vidal

    It may sound like sour grapes, but I would rather be practically anything than President.

    —Will Cuppy

    They use different words for things in America.
    For instance they say elevator and we say lift.
    They say drapes and we say curtains.
    They say president and we say brain damaged git.

    —Alexie Sayle

    The public seems incapable of distinguishing between your garden variety idiot and your genuine lunatic. It is the same confusion the public has had over the last five Presidents.

    —Mark Leeper

    How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?

    To announce that there must be no criticism of the President or that we must stand by the President right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but it is morally treasonable to the American public.

    —Theodore Roosevelt

    "Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the president's spouse. I wish him well!"

    —Barbara Bush

    "To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say, well done. And to the C students, I say, you too can be President of the United States."

    —George W. Bush, speaking at a Yale commencement

    When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it.

    —Clarence Darrow

    President, n. The leading figure in a small group of men of whom—and of whom only—it is positively known that immense numbers of their countrymen did not want any of them for President.

    —Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

    No man will ever bring out of the Presidency the reputation which carries him into it.

    —Thomas Jefferson

    I sit here all day trying to persuade people to do the things they ought to have sense enough to do without my persuading them. That's all the powers of the President amount to.

    —Harry S. Truman
    1. ↑ This quote was often quoted by detractors of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
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