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Timebinder, v. 1, Issue 1, 1944
25
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IDEAS ON STATESMANSHIP. (INTRODUCTORY NOTE: In this "Adventure Into Thinking", I am proceeding as though there were no wars going on at present, for these thoughts and ideas have nothing special to do with American in war more than they have in peace. The thoughts are generalized with no special conditions in view, but cover the general range of governmental activities.) * * * * During the past two decades, as I have grown to take a much greater interest in the general situations in our country, I have had forced upon me more and more the belief that our "great men" in public life fall far short of what they might be, and should be, because they remain "politicians", rather than becoming "statesmen". I am sure that you readers know and acknowledge the great difference in those two terms. One of the reasons for this, I am convinced, is that our political set-up, especially among the very highest officials tends to keep those men from making that change, by the very nature of that political system. For instance, to take the very highest place, that of our President, he is considered the titular head of his party", even after he has been elected and installed in office, and there he is supposed to favor his party almost entirely, under a slight modification of the old "spoils system". The men who help him get elected must have high offices, without regard to their fitness to hold them competently. It is impossible to believe that we get the best government possible under such a set-up. Very few Presidents have ever gone outside of their own party to pick a man for a high executive job, event though there might be an outstanding man available (with the single exception of that fact -- that he belonged to "the opposition".) There have been some exceptions, but how lamentably few the student of political history can find. I have long been in favor of changing the constitution to provide that a President can serve but one six-year term; that after that he automatically becomes a "Senator at Large" so that the country can retain the advantage of his experience and ability. This appointment should be for life, and at a salary, probably half again or double that of the regular Senators. Thus could we do him honor for his services to us. thus aid ourselves with his continued service. 20
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IDEAS ON STATESMANSHIP. (INTRODUCTORY NOTE: In this "Adventure Into Thinking", I am proceeding as though there were no wars going on at present, for these thoughts and ideas have nothing special to do with American in war more than they have in peace. The thoughts are generalized with no special conditions in view, but cover the general range of governmental activities.) * * * * During the past two decades, as I have grown to take a much greater interest in the general situations in our country, I have had forced upon me more and more the belief that our "great men" in public life fall far short of what they might be, and should be, because they remain "politicians", rather than becoming "statesmen". I am sure that you readers know and acknowledge the great difference in those two terms. One of the reasons for this, I am convinced, is that our political set-up, especially among the very highest officials tends to keep those men from making that change, by the very nature of that political system. For instance, to take the very highest place, that of our President, he is considered the titular head of his party", even after he has been elected and installed in office, and there he is supposed to favor his party almost entirely, under a slight modification of the old "spoils system". The men who help him get elected must have high offices, without regard to their fitness to hold them competently. It is impossible to believe that we get the best government possible under such a set-up. Very few Presidents have ever gone outside of their own party to pick a man for a high executive job, event though there might be an outstanding man available (with the single exception of that fact -- that he belonged to "the opposition".) There have been some exceptions, but how lamentably few the student of political history can find. I have long been in favor of changing the constitution to provide that a President can serve but one six-year term; that after that he automatically becomes a "Senator at Large" so that the country can retain the advantage of his experience and ability. This appointment should be for life, and at a salary, probably half again or double that of the regular Senators. Thus could we do him honor for his services to us. thus aid ourselves with his continued service. 20
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