Reflections On Postwar American Presidents
REFLECTIONS ON POSTWAR AMERICAN PRESIDENTS
Truman became President by accident, which
probably explains why, on the whole, he did a good job.
Eisenhower, deprecated as an inveterate bungler,
a shillyshallying, grinning incompetent,
is now beginning to emerge as one of the greats
of his century, a genius who kept ‘m guessing,
a Brutus-like sly dumb guy, always three moves ahead,
his inane image proving a perfect camouflage
in the inanest, insanest, of all necessary games
with its shameful shams and rituals, the pretence
you can please all of the people all of the time,
the big lie that makes one man to be a god
having all the answers and a tucked-away fifth ace.
Kennedy played a straight hand, almost parading integrity
with a Gracchan touch, which, come to think of it,
explains a lot (for “forum” read “open motorcade in Dallas”).
On the other hand, images tarnish with exposure
and those who die in their prime never age.
Once again a Johnson put on dead men’s boots
and had to assume, then pay, the mortgage on Vietnam.
Funny how it’s the liberals who get so entangled in foreign broils.
Nixon’s waterfall was caused as much by neurosis
as by the exposure of deceit. Actually, Machiavelli
prescribed dirty tricks only in the case of need.
Why lie, when you can make an inoperative statement or two?
Ford gave the impression of being a decent non-intellectual,
the kindova guy who lacked the nerve to push his luck.
The key to explaining Jimmy’s rise and fall
is appreciating America's occasional need
to find a clean Eugene, but not too clean,
which is probably why he lasted out for just one term..
You can win one election, but evidently not two,
by promising to deliver, like you might a peanut order.
Reagan outdid even Eisenhower in looking like a goof,
and likewise turned up trumps - thanks largely to Gorby,
or was it massive deficit spending, Maggy and good luck?
George W. Bush Senior, being no fool, kept his cool,
and was much kinder to Germany than ever old Europe was.
Bill ensured economic stability, but Starr-crossed like Romeo,
he let sexual proclivities distract him from his political portfolio.
George W. Bush Junior, despite mess-ups in Florida,
Finished off one Hussein to be followed by another.
Barak Obama did what he could, the degree being modest
Compared to his high hopes on first entering office.
Who’s holding the trump card? Is Hillary next?
We’ll know soon enough, so why get vexed?
written before last results known
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