When in 1796 it was proposed to George Washingtonwho had held the two previous terms, to run for the presidency of the United States a third time, he replied that this was not possible, above all because the weight of a presidency was so serious that it was not possible to bear it for more than eight years.
This oral disposition of the president, considered a father of the country, was respected by all his successors. Only Ulysses Grant somehow tried to get a third term, but he was rejected already at the convention. The rule was respected by all his successors until it arrived Franklin Delano Roosevelt, elected for the first time in 1932 and a second time in 1936. In 1940 he ran for a third time, arguing that since there was a war underway, which promised to be world-wide, it was a good idea for someone with great experience to sit in the White House and not a newbie. Then in 1944 he said that since the war had not yet ended, he had to stay. Then, as soon as he took office for his fourth term, he passed away.
Now, it’s not that this was the determining reason, but one of many that led the American Congress into 1951 to approve the twenty-second amendment which requires that no one may be elected more than two times President of the United States. Therefore it does not place limits on candidacies except for someone who has been elected twice.
Barack Obama, who was elected twice, will never be able to run a third time. Donald Trumphowever, having been elected once and now trying to obtain a second candidacy, if he were not elected he could run again indefinitely.
In fact, there are so-called perennial candidates, that is, those who always run without ever managing to get to the White House.
Mauro della Porta Raffo, Honorary President of the Italy USA Foundation
TheVermilion.com is also on Whatsapp. Simply click here to subscribe to the channel and always be updated (free).