Adams Going It Alone: The Presidents, An Independent Cast of Mind

from the American Presidents Series. Description:

An Independent Cast of Mind: The first half of the episode focuses on America's occasional proclivity to elect a president who claims to be independent of partisan politics. As the program suggests through recounting the stories of John Adams, Taylor, Hayes and Carter, independence doesn't always lead to effectiveness. In fact no independent has ever been elected to a second term in office. The second half focuses on those presidents who can be considered "professional" politicians, beginning with Martin Van Buren and including James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon B. Johnson. This episode suggests that these presidents were somewhat limited in their ability to respond to crisis because in times of crisis, the people want a statesman, not a politician.

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