Evening star., 1936-11-08
THIRD
IN A
SERIES


aside the no-third-
sEhiES term custom as he
- has already shattered
several political, party and presiden-
tial precedents.
Mr.. Roosevelt has demonstrated
that he is no respecter of tradition
merely for traditions sake. His first
four years in ofice have in no way
committed him, so far as the public
knows. either to the candidacy Of any
one else for the Democratic nomina-
ton in 1910 or to refrain from seek
ing 1t himself.
Since George Washington set the
fashion, there has been a sort of un-
written law that eight years be con-
sidered the limit of any mans service
at the head of the government. Only
two men, Ulysses S. Grant and Theo-
dore Roosevelt, have been candidates
for third terms Their candidates.,
however, followed intervening admin
1strations and Grant failed Of third
term nomination.
Washington Declined.
Washington, who was the only
President unanimously reelected,
made known to intimates early in the
last year Of his second administration
that he would decline a third term.
He had not been the candidate Of any
particular party, and there is little
doubt that he could have been re-
elected again If he had desired.
jefferson announced after his sec
ond Inauguration that he would not
be a candidate again. Andrew Jack
son, in his first message to Congress.
expressed the opinion that it was ad-
visable to limit the service of the
Chief Executive to single term OF
four or six years. He repeated this
recommendation in several messages.
An idol of the masses. Gen. Jackson
acceded to demands of his followers
that he seek a second term. He made
no effort to obtain a third term, al
though some Of his enthusiastic sup
porters maintained he could keep on
being reelected as long as he lived.
However, he stepped out Of office just
In time to escape 1.-The terrible panic
Of 1887"
Grant Movement Killed.
Two years before Grants turbulent
second term expired, it was rumored
he would be a candidate for q third
term. In letter to Pennsylvania Re-
publican, he said: II do not want
third term any more than I did the
first" But he added that the people
were not restricted to two terms by
the Constitution.
President Grant said that the time
might come when it would be unfor-
tunate to make a change at the end
Of eight years and that he would not
accept nomination unless it should
come under circumstances as to make
1t observation-disclosures not likely
to arise"
This leaving of the door open' to
4 third term stirred heated public and
private discussion.
Then Congress virtually killed a
possible Grant third term movement
at the time.
A Democratic member from Illinois
offered resolution that "in the opin-
ion Of this House the precedent estab-
lished by Washington and other Pres
idents in retiring after two terms has
become by universal concurrence a
part of our Republican system of Gov
eminent and any departure from this
time-honored custom would be un-
wise. unpatriotic and fraught with
nnri1 tn inc
Resolution Adopted.
The resolution was adopted by the
huge majority of 234 to 18. It was
supported not only by all Democratic
members, but by 10 out of SO Repub-
Lcan Representatives who voted. Four
years after the completion of his Sec
ond term. Grant was again proposed
for the 1880 presidential nomination.
His name led for SO consecutive
ballots, but the convention finally
chose Garfield.
When it became certain that he
had been elected for a second term
by an overwhelming majority in
1904, Theodore Roosevelt announced
ne would not seek a third term.
"On the fourth of March next, I
shall have served three and a half
years-and three and a half years
constitutes my first term" Teddy said.
The wise custom which limits the
Presidents to two terms regards the
substance and not the form, and
under no circumstances will I be a
candidate for or accept another NOM
nation"
Split Republican Party.
But in 1912 he became the presi-
Dental candidate of the Bull Moose
Progressives in the famous campaign
which split the Republican party and
resulted in the election of Woodrow
Wilson. In 1916, Col. Roosevelt's
name was placed in nomina ton for
the presidency but he made no CAM
paign for that honor and Charles
Evans Hughes became the party,s
candidate
Again at the close Of the World War
It appeared almost certain that Teddy
would be the Republican presiden-
tial choice in 1920. Death interyened
In January, 1919, to end his cele-
brated career. If he had lived he
probably would have been the first
President to shatter the no-third-
term precedent since the Republicans,
with the comparatively unknown
Warren Harding as standard bearer,
won q smashing electoral victory.
Another President who, according
to widespread opinion, could have
had third term for the asking was
Calvin Coolidge. He tried to scotch
denomination talk with his famous Il
do not choose to run" statement is
sued while on vacation in the Sum-
mer Of 1927, but was forced to clar-
ify it with emphatic announcements
later on before he could convince the
public Of his sincerity.