Watch The American President online: Episode 2 Politics & The Presidency (An Independent Cast of Minds & The Professional Politician)

An Independent Cast of Minds: "The American public, from time to time, wishes to see the trustee who looks neither right nor left, but only up to the heavens and down to the work before him," says presidential scholar Richard Neustadt. But is an independent cast of mind the best approach to the presidency? These four men pursued a course that took little account of political affiliation -- to be presidents, in essence, without being politicians. Taken together, they comprise a cautionary tale -- all had difficult presidencies, and neither of the two who sought a second term was granted one. The Professional Politician: We forget that, in our nation's early years, taking part in political affairs was considered a duty and an honor, but not a way of life. It was not long, however, before the professional politicians, and the parties they represented, began to find their way to the White House. While the skills necessary for political success can be helpful to a president, they are not in themselves sufficient to guarantee success in the office. Episode 4 traces the presidencies of four political professionals, one of whom was also a great statesman.

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