Thomas Eagleton 9.4.1929 - 3.4.2007
US Navy Veteran
Harvard Law Graduate
Youngest Attorney General in Missouri State history
Missouri Lieutenant Governor
US Senator
Professor of Law
Even has a courthouse named after him...
But not good enough to be:
Candidate for Vice Presidency of the United States of America
Apparently Mr. Eagleton's fatal flaw was seeking medical attention for "physical and nervous exhaustion." He sought help for depression. Newspapers and critics seized upon his past medical history and eventually Eagleton had to step down.
He could have just kept it under his hat. He could have used alcohol or drugs to self medicate (although many accused him of alcoholism). Perhaps he could have engaged in some other maladaptive behavior to find release from his inner unhappiness... But wait... That would have made him... Just like every other politician in US history.
Why is it America will condemn a person who takes a couple of Prozac a day to deal with a legitimate medical condition but put full faith in a person who voluntarily chooses to occasionally depress their nervous system and get pissed drunk?
Well... It's not like it mattered anyway... McGovern went down in flames against Nixon. Fortunately America chose to elect a candidate who was a big fan of full disclosure. Just imagine the horrible things that could have happened if we had elected a person with a mood disorder.
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1 comment:
Hey--just visiting from Salieri's blog. Thanks for posting this--I probably never would have heard about it otherwise.
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