# Which ex-president set the precedent for keeping a low profile after office? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263 "2016-05-20T22:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/1 "2016-05-20T22:58:58Z")
I can’t recall any modern ex-president speaking out about his successor. It makes sense that modern presidents leave office quietly and avoid any distracting public statements while the new administration assumes power. Clearing the stage so that there is no public confusion or divided loyalties within the country. The US has one definitive leader at any given time. Can history identify a specific ex president that set this precedent? I know Teddy Roosevelt clashed with his hand picked successor (Taft). But I don’t recall if he waited a year or two before speaking out. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/what-will-obama-do-after-presidency-223406](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/what-will-obama-do-after-presidency-223406) > [@](#): > > Jarrett responded, “One of the things that I would compliment President [George W.] Bush for is — and not just President Bush, but several members of his team as well, who have said to me, we had our eight years, and now we owe you our silence.” > > “And I think that’s just the way the president will behave in terms of Washington. But does that mean that he has a platform on which he can do great good around our country and around the world? Sure,” Jarrett said. “But he will leave being the president to the new president.” ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/2 "2016-05-20T23:48:42Z")
George Washington went back to Mt Vernon and lived a private life for a little while. He was asked later to return and help with the army, hard to say if that was his desire. ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/3 "2016-05-20T23:53:01Z")
Pretty much has to be George Washington. That was his whole deal, and it’s why the succession thing still works as good as it does. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/4 "2016-05-21T00:10:41Z")
If you’re not picky about the orientation, Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Garfield, Mckinley, Harding, FDR and JFK were all pretty quiet after leaving office… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/5 "2016-05-21T00:23:20Z")
> [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](#): > > Pretty much has to be George Washington. That was his whole deal, and it’s why the succession thing still works as good as it does. Washington left office in 1797 and was succeeded by his own Vice President, John Adams, who shared most of his political views. Washington died in 1799 having never had to see a President from an opposing party. Adams had it tougher. He was beaten by Jefferson in 1800. He was bitter and went off to retire at his home before the inauguration. But he never spoke out publicly against Jefferson. The two men, who had been close friends, eventually reconciled after Jefferson also retired from politics. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/6 "2016-05-21T00:28:48Z")
> [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](#): > > Pretty much has to be George Washington. That was his whole deal, and it’s why the succession thing still works as good as it does. John Adams also mostly kept his mouth shut whille Thomas Jefferson was in office, although he increased his critiques after Jefferson left office. Jefferson, in turn, was pretty much burned out when he left office, and turned his energies toward other pursuits. Madison and Monroe also mostly withdrew from public life. It wasn’t until John Quincy Adams that a president _didn’t_ retire from public life after leaving office. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/7 "2016-05-21T01:28:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I can’t recall any modern ex-president speaking out about his successor. It makes sense that modern presidents leave office quietly and avoid any distracting public statements while the new administration assumes power. Clearing the stage so that there is no public confusion or divided loyalties within the country. The US has one definitive leader at any given time. I don’t think that Jimmy Carter said anything about Reagan, but he’s certainly been outspoken since. > [@](#): > > Democratic President Jimmy Carter, who served one term in office, has a history of biting criticism of those who followed him in the White House. > > In 2007, Carter delivered a blistering critique of the Bush administration, telling the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette “as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history.” > > Carter hasn’t directed his criticism only at Republicans, though. In a February 2013 speech, he faulted the Obama administration for its dealings with North Korea and Iran. > **[Bush, like most predecessors, holds tongue on successor | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/04/politics/bush-president-relationships/)** > > George W. Bush’s comments about President Obama this week maintain a White House custom – don’t criticize your successors. > [@](#): > > George W. Bush took a shot at fellow ex-president Jimmy Carter during this morning’s closed-door reunion breakfast for Bush-Cheney alums, saying Carter “made my life miserable.” > **[Bush: Jimmy Carter 'Made My Life Miserable'](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bush-jimmy-carter-made-my_n_478419)** > > Bush: Jimmy Carter 'Made My Life Miserable' ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/8 "2016-05-21T01:45:59Z")
Others have given good answers so I’ll just mention the former president that would come in last place for this question. It would have to be Grover Cleveland 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/9 "2016-05-21T02:57:49Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Jefferson, in turn, was pretty much burned out when he left office, and turned his energies toward other pursuits Jefferson, like Washington, had no real reason to rail against his successors. Both Madison and Monroe had been members of his political group. They were essentially carrying on Jefferson’s agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/10 "2016-05-21T03:12:31Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Others have given good answers so I’ll just mention the former president that would come in last place for this question. It would have to be Grover Cleveland 😛 No, I’d actually rate Theodore Roosevelt as dead last. Cleveland did of course run again after leaving office, as did Van Buren, Fillmore, and Grant. But all of those individuals adhered to the more genteel Nineteenth Century tradition, in which the office sought the man, and the candidate said little and let surrogates do the dirty work. Theodore Roosevelt was one of the first to campaign in modern style, hitting the campaign trail, making speech after speech, and ripping Taft a new asshole at every opportunity. Later on, even though he wasn’t running, he was equally disapproving of Wilson. There is no doubt, Teddy was the Former President from Hell. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/11 "2016-05-21T03:23:20Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > No, I’d actually rate Theodore Roosevelt as dead last. That’s what I was planning to post here. Before you did!! ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/12 "2016-05-21T03:35:58Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That’s what I was planning to post here. Before you did!! Well then you have to type faster! I agree with others, in general this is a tradition that goes back to Washington with Roosevelt an exception. The tradition was re-enforced, I dare say, during the Cold War, when it was more important for the country to speak with one voice on foreign policy. I get the feeling also, that as the burdens of the office grew, partly because of the US as superpower and partly because of omnipresent media, that Presidents are reluctant to criticize one another because they _understand_ one another. They know the office is difficult enough without your predecessors sniping away. The only counter-example that I can think of, in my lifetime, is that Harry Truman said some pretty unkind things about Richard Nixon toward the end of his (Truman’s) life. Nixon had a way of making people do that. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/13 "2016-05-21T13:27:10Z")
A better question is, which president started the trend of NOT staying out of the spotlight? I’d say Nixon. Unlike Truman, Ike and LBJ, Nixon wrote books, did interviews, offered critiques of sitting presidents, and tried to remake himself as an elder statesman. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/14 "2016-05-21T15:00:08Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Can history identify a specific ex president that set this precedent? Its on page 47 Declan ---
**Author:** ![Goofus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@Goofus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goofus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/15 "2016-05-21T15:05:54Z")
It makes sense, though. If you’re a former president, why would you go around antagonizing the person who could open investigations into all the shenanigans you pulled while you were in office? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/16 "2016-05-21T15:17:40Z")
If you’re _really_ interested in how the ex-presidents of the modern era related to the guys who were currently in office, read [The Presidents Club](http://www.amazon.com/Presidents-Club-Inside-Exclusive-Fraternity/dp/1439127700?ie=UTF8&qid=1463843581&ref_=tmm_hrd_swatch_0&sr=1-1). ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/17 "2016-05-21T16:16:37Z")
A more interesting tact might be to see what defeated presidents did. Carter, Ford, Nixon(sort of),Bush sr., Hoover It’s one thing to have spent your time on the stage and exit on cue, it’s another to lose when you could have won. I understand, if one had been the “leader of the free world” and head of the biggest, richest country on earth - what could you possibly do for an encore? Plus, odds are the president who lost an election with the advantage of incumbency would need some serious “told ya so” to expect to be the candidate again. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/18 "2016-05-21T18:47:12Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > If you’re not picky about the orientation, Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Garfield, Mckinley, Harding, FDR and JFK were all pretty quiet after leaving office… JFK was dead silent. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/19 "2016-05-21T18:55:33Z")
> [@Goofus](#): > > It makes sense, though. If you’re a former president, why would you go around antagonizing the person who could open investigations into all the shenanigans you pulled while you were in office? It’s not that. If a sitting President investigated his predecessor without a **REALLY** good reason, the next time the White House changed political parties, chickens would come home to roost with a vengeance. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263/20 "2016-05-21T18:56:52Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > The only counter-example that I can think of, in my lifetime, is that Harry Truman said some pretty unkind things about Richard Nixon toward the end of his (Truman’s) life. Nixon had a way of making people do that. Psst. See post #7. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ex-president-set-the-precedent-for-keeping-a-low-profile-after-office/755263.md?page=2)