Political Eligibility Quotes
When Lyndon Johnson was elected Vice President he, as the former Senate Majority Leader, wanted to lead the Democratic Senate Caucus. Gore objected because he thought that violated the separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislative branches, and he wanted the Senate to be independent from the administration. Despite Gore’s objection, Johnson was elected.
New York State was so concerned about the separation of church and state that they would not allow any religious cleric or official, to serve in any position of the state militia or government. Delaware had earlier placed the same prohibition against clerics serving in any branch of the government. See {621428} The Bill of Rights did not go that far, but there are a few religions that also support this notion. Perhaps the most dramatic example was Pope John Paul’s prohibition of Priests running for elective office.
Although a right wing conservative, he shared the view of many liberals that it costs so much money and needs so many rich contacts to raise enough money to run for President, that the reality is beyond the reach of ordinary Americans. Since Harry Truman, all the Presidents have been affluent, and most millionaires.
George Canning, 1770-1827, the British Foreign Minister at only 35 years of age was considered the most brilliant politician of this time. He would have been a natural selection for Prime Minister. However, early in Canning's boyhood his father had been disinherited and died in poverty and his mother worked as an actress to support the family. This quotation shows the snobbery and class distinction that permeated England at the time.
Dole was asked whether American troops should be assigned to peacekeeping duties under the command of the United Nations and Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali:
There was much New England dissatisfaction with the disproportionate power held by the Southern states as a result of counting three-fifths of the slave population for apportioning Congressional seats. In addition they were disproportionately hurt by the War of 1812 and the Embargo on trade with England. Secession was proposed but failed to get a majority. A number of proposed Constitutional amendments were voted upon. This one reflected the racism and nativism of the time.
In America there are different State laws on this subject. In some, if a person finished his sentence and paid his debt to society, he is no longer prohibited from public and political life; in others, he can no longer even vote. This was a particularly offensive thing to English women who were not allowed to vote or hold office while a male felon could serve a decade in jail and then do either.
