t for the man and his office. Eisenhower was unable to escape such public scrutiny. After a heart attack in 1955 and Ileitis surgery in 1956 the media openly questioned whether he was capable of effectively governing while in such bad health. More recently many people questioned Ronald Reagans senility in the 1980s. The press openly printed innuendoes about his inability to hold a coherent conversation or even remember what he had for breakfast. In contrast after Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919 the public was never told he was barely able to speak. His aides explained his apparent lack of public appearances and speaking engagements as the result of an increased workload. Thomas Jeffersons 38-year affair with a slave was common knowledge among his contemporaries. The rumors have persisted through the centuries. Due to a lack of documentation substantiating these claims present day historians argued about its plausibility until DNA tests proved his infidelity. Clintons detractors printed every innuendo even if there wasnt a shred of evidence to support it. Presidential scandal is a part of American politics. That is a fact that we, as a people, must accept. In the thirties society enjoyed the feeling of a personal relationship with our president. Today we have become so personal we look closer at his personal flaws and less at his ability to lead. Politicians and journalists should act carefully as they hit the campaign trail this year. If this trend continues there may be no one moral enough to pass public scrutiny. Through history I believe we can prove Clintons political trouble was not merely a sign of the times but a side effect of a trend started sixty-five years ago....
