The Legacy of Leaving Office

By: Vince Yanez

A friend of mine was reading one of my posts, where I compared Republicans to Democrats, and she asked me something I found intriguing. She said, “Have you ever noticed when a Democrat leaves office they continue doing things to help the country and the world, when a Republican leaves office, they just sort of disappear?”

I wondered if that were true. Of course, I know Bush was involved with raising money for Haiti, but that was at the request of his president. And I know H.W. Bush was involved with raising money for the Tsunami, but that was at the request of his president as well. So I started wondering, aside from your president asking you to get involved (and who can refuse that request), what have you done to help the country and the world you so vehemently spoke about working so hard to make a better place? Here is what I found.

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Democratic Post-Presidential Accomplishments

Jimmy Carter:

Won the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing democracy and human rights around the world

Established the Carter Center, to advance human rights and alleviate unnecessary human suffering. The non-profit, nongovernmental Center promotes democracy, mediates and prevents conflicts, and monitors the electoral process in support of free and fair elections. It also works to improve global health through the control and eradication of disease. Works to diminish the stigma of mental illness and improve nutrition in Africa.

Peace mission in North Korea (per request by President Clinton)

Peace missions in Middle East, Bosnia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Haiti and Venezuela

Works with Habitat for Humanity in America and internationally, building homes for the poor

Has authored over 23 books

Bill Clinton:

Created the William J. Clinton Foundation

Created the Clinton Foundation HIV and AIDS Initiative, which strives to combat the disease worldwide

Created the Clinton Global Initiative to address world problems such as health, poverty, and religious/ethnic conflict

Coordinated with manufacturers to stop selling sugared beverages in schools

Traveled to North Korea, to successfully help free two American journalists imprisoned for illegally entering the country, at the request of President Gore (Yeah, that’s right, I said it)

Was appointed by the United Nations as Special Envoy to Haiti

Gave the keynote address at the inauguration of Ireland’s Environmental Foundation

Received a 2004 Grammy for a children’s album

Received a 2005 Grammy for his book, My Life

In 2005 received the J. William Fulbright prize for International Understanding

Received the 2007 TED prize

Has authored six books

Al Gore:

(Yup, because with having won the popular vote by 500,000 votes, some of us still think democracy died a little that day)

In the aftermath of Katrina, chartered two planes to help evacuate victims from Louisiana

Won the Nobel Peace Prize

Created Current TV channel to help address issues globally and locally

Won an Emmy for Current TV, a Webby Award and the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation

Won an Academy Award for An Inconvenient Truth

Won a Grammy for An Inconvenient Truth

Has authored over 12 books

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Republican Post-Presidential Accomplishments

Ronald Reagan:

Bought a home

Went to church

Spoke against the 22^nd Amendment, which allows a president to serve only two terms

Wrote one  book (memoirs)

George H.W. Bush:

Holds a yearly fishing tournament

Did ads to help raise money for Katrina and the Tsunami with President Clinton

Awarded the National Italian American Foundation award.

Wrote one book (memoirs)

George W. Bush:

Bought a house

Flipped a coin at a Cowboys game

Gave a speech where he said he still defends torture

Is trying to write his first book

Clears brush

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So I suppose maybe there is something interesting to the fact that when a Democrat gets out of office, they take that opportunity to use their prominence in the world to create societal change on the Liberal ideals of providing healthcare, eliminating poverty, fighting hunger, eliminating disease and helping to educate the public on a host of issues. It appears those things they said to get elected were not just words to win the office, but ideals they actually believed in and continue to fight for.

Apparently, when a Republican leaves office, those Conservative ‘morals’ and ‘values’ they like to shout in order to win the office become, well, less important. Looks like the main focus of a post-Republican president is to buy a home, maybe write a memoir…and clean up the yard a bit.

Oh, and yes, I find the accomplishment of writing books a bit interesting as well…don’t you?