It was during the Johnson administration. A leading weekly news magazine, editorializing on Mr. Johnson's chances in the upcoming elections, viewed the President's chances from the perspective of the violent antiwar demonstrations, the civil rights movement, the arms race, pollution, and, most especially, the Vietnam war. As that November drew ominously nearer, the magazine blandly prophesied that the Vietnam war would almost certainly be brought to some sort of conclusion. The reason? Mr. Johnson would most certainly "not dare" face the voters in the upcoming elections with "a war on his hands." That incredible statement, almost instantly lost in the casual, normal, sometimes boringly repetitious analyses by the media, public surveys, and editorial speculations about the next presidential election, was a singular indictment. Without intending to, it had plainly charged that presidents in office may either begin wars, protract wars, or halt wars through various means, commonly at their disposal, if the personal stakes are high enough – in this case, an election. But what an indictment! Surely it can't be true? Surely, once having soared to the towering pinnacle of leadership of a huge nuclear power, a President of the United States is above partisan or personal politics, isn't he? Surely those occupying the highest offices of national governments must be people who think, reason, and act on a much higher plane than laymen.
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