JFK – A President in Pain

My thoughts today are with the late John Fitzgerald Kennedy. My reason is personal and has nothing to do with the fact that in a few short weeks, the media will bombard us with stories of his life and the assassination which took place almost fifty years ago.

On Sunday morning, I rose from the bath and felt a huge pain in my back. I could have taken myself to the ER but this would have meant a three hour wait at least, in chairs or on a trolley that would have compounded the agony. By the evening, I could neither sit nor lie in any comfort at all. There was just too much pain. I did not sleep that night. Fortunately, the following day I was given painkillers which worked and the physiotherapist practised his arts to good effect. However, it has taken me three days to get to my computer. Sitting in my office chair remains uncomfortable.

JFK had chronic back problems. He was often in great pain and since his death much has been made of how his doctor took a virtual pharmacy into the White House to treat the President. You have to give credit to JFK. Despite the level of pain he endured, he still managed to conduct his life – and his affairs - and act as the chief executive and commander-in-chief. I am impressed by his fortitude, although it has to be said that apart from one or two successful initiatives, his record as a president is poor. For example, he had huge difficulties getting his legislative program through Congress. Doesn’t that have a familiar ring! Further, his record on black civil rights left much to be desired.

But let me return to the Kennedy back. The fact that he suffered from back pain was known to the public. But how would the public have reacted had the painkiller problem been aired by the press? Would the public have accepted a president who lived with painkillers? Did the press know? I think not but my researches have not established the truth, either way.

President Roosevelt’s infirmity was well known to the press. The media chose not to publicise it, as it was personal, merely gossip. Mind you, FDR had excellent relations with the gentlemen of the press. This friendliness would not have stopped publication had any newspaper considered his health newsworthy. The point was that FDR governing abilities were not hampered by his paralysis.

Woodrow Wilson’s illness was different. Exhausted by the Great War and negotiating the Treaty of Versailles, he ran himself into the ground as he tried to persuade Congress to ratify the treaty. The last months of his life found Wilson unable to do anything. It is said that Mrs. Wilson became the de facto president. I doubt this but certainly the press was kept in the dark about the health of the chief executive.

I don’t want to go into the infirmities of 19^th century presidents. In those days, Congress was the most powerful branch of government and the presidency, excluding Lincoln’s administration, had comparatively little importance. However, it is worth noting that President Grant was an alcoholic!

Undoubtedly, the media has changed in its attitude towards the health of prospective chief executives. If Chris Christie runs in 2016 and doesn’t reduce his girth substantially, the Democratic-leaning press will be merciless about his physical appearance, regardless of his record as governor of New Jersey. Mind you, it seems that Christie realises that his avoirdupois will be an issue as he is already dropping the pounds. What has his weight got to do with his ability to govern? The problem seems to be that since JFK, presidents are meant to look like matinee idols. In this context, when Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State, her appearance was older and plainer.

Why is the ability to govern subsumed by the need to look good, so far as parts of the media are concerned? Perhaps this is about appealing to the lowest common denominator or it could be prompted by needing something, anything, to chat about on 24/7 television.

Governing is a serious business. It is also very difficult. There are parts of the American media that now trivialise the presidency. What saddens me is that the British media is following suit, preferring the cosmetic to the concrete and complex.