On 02 Oct 97 18:25, Harvey Heagy wrote:
 > MF> However, I think it should be
 > MF> pointed out that the reason
 > MF> Presidential term limits were placed
 > MF> in the Constitution was
 > MF> purely political:  Republicans
 > MF> didn't want another FDR.  Nothing
 > MF> more, nothing less.
 HH> If that is true, how do you account
 HH> for the fact that the amendment was passed
 HH> during a time when the congress was
 HH> democratically controlled?  From President
 HH> Roosevelt's death until 1955, both
 HH> houses of congress consisted of a democratic
 HH> majority and the amendment was
 HH> radified during the Truman administration.  the
 HH> next Republican controlled congress
 HH> was not seated until 1955 during the
 HH> Eisenhower administration.
Hmmm ... I beg to differ with you.  Didn't the Republicans win 
both houses in 1946?  The Demos took the House, at least, back in 
1948, I believe, but the Republicans again controlled both houses 
from 1952-1954.  the 22nd amendment was ratified in either '52 or 
'53, if I recall.
 HH> Also, the amendment contained a little
 HH> known proviso that it did not apply to
 HH> anyone holding office at the time of
 HH> its radification.  So Truman could have
 HH> run for as many terms as he wanted had he chosen to do so.
Absolutely.  My opinion as to why he did not is that he sensed 
that he was beginning to slip a bit intellectually and wanted to 
leave while he was in good shape and before he did the country 
harm.  Listen to the speech before the Demos in which he announced 
he would not run again and compare that with, say, the news 
conference wherein he announced McArthur's firing and you will 
notice a slight difference in style -- he is not as dynamic in the 
former case as in the latter.
 HH> Finally, 3/4 of the states also had to
 HH> radify it before it could become part of
 HH> the constitution so it was not just
 HH> 2/3 of congress that was responsible for
 HH> presidential term limits.
True enough.  But there are enough demagogues to fill both Federal 
government and the state governments. (grin)
 HH> The incumbent definitely has the
 HH> advantage in any election and the more he or
 HH> she remains in office the more powerful he or she becomes.
Incumbents definitely have the edge.  However, I would dispute 
your claim that the longer they remain in office, the more 
powerful they become.  Tell that to Tom Foley!
Mike Freeman
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