Term limits domestically and abroad

Quote: Creelman Interview of Mexican president Diaz, 1908

"You know that in the United States we are troubled about the question of electing a President for three terms?"

He smiled and then looked grave, nodding his head gently and pursing his lips. It is hard to describe the look of concentrated interest that suddenly came into his strong, intelligent countenance.

"Yes, yes, I know," he replied. "It is a natural sentiment of democratic peoples that their officials should be often changed. I agree with that sentiment."

It seemed hard to realize that I was listening to a soldier who had ruled a republic continuously for more than a quarter of a century with a personal authority unknown to most kings. Yet he spoke with a simple and convincing manner, as one whose place was great and secure beyond the need of hypocrisy.

"It is quite true that when a man has occupied a powerful office for a very long time he is likely to begin to look upon it as his personal property, and it is well that a free people should guard themselves against the tendencies of individual ambition.

"Yet the abstract theories of democracy and the practical, effective application of them are often necessarily different--that is when you are seeking for the substance rather than the mere form.

"I can see no good reason why President Roosevelt should not be elected again if a majority of the American people desire to have him continue in office. I believe that he has thought more of his country than of himself. He has done and is doing a great work for the United States, a work that will cause him, whether he serves again or not, to be remembered in history as one of the great Presidents. I look upon the trusts as a great and real power in the United States, and President Roosevelt has had the patriotism and courage to defy them. Mankind understands the meaning of his attitude and its bearing upon the future. He stands before the world as a states-man whose victories have been moral victories. ...

"Here in Mexico we have had different conditions. I received this Government from the hands of a victorious army at a time when the people were divided and unprepared for the exercise of the extreme principles of democratic government. To have thrown upon the masses the whole responsibility of government at once would have produced conditions that might have discredited the cause of free government.

Quote: Nareed

Didn't Teddy eventually run, later on, using a third party?

Quote: pacomartin

The decision to word the amendment to limit the president to only winning two elections is a testament to either stupidity, or naivete. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you could run as VP, and then have the winning president resign upon election.

Quote: pacomartin

He formed his own party, but as usually the case that only splits the vote, and Woodrow Wilson won for two terms beginning in 1912.

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There is a strong belief that George Washington set the unofficial two term limit. But there is also evidence that he was too sick to run for a third term. He died only 2.5 years after leaving the presidency. In any case, none of the other founding fathers ran for a third term.

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In between the founding fathers and Teddy Roosevelt, the only president who considered running three times was Grant, and he didn't have strong support. Plus he had a serious drinking problem.

Quote: AZDuffman

Unconstitutional. No person shall run for VP who does not meet the requirements to be POTUS.

Quote: pacomartin

But that is the question. The amendment only says you cannot be elected president. It is different than someone who is not native born running for VP. That is unconstitutional, since they are not eligible to be president.

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There is no question that someone would challenge the decision in court, but it is not at all clear how the court would rule.

Quote: Nareed

So we have Teddy to blame for Wilson... :)

Ah, but didn't Grover Cleveland run three times? After being defeated for re-election, he ran again four years later and won. He's the only man to serve two non-consecutive terms (and probably the one with the oddest name, to boot).Of course others may have run more than two times. Nixon did.

Term limits would help, but they'd ahve to be absolute. That is, any person having served X number of terms in the House cannot be elected to the House again in another district. Mexican "Diputados," who are limited to a single 3 year term, go district-hopping and get elected again and again.