[Mb-civic] From George W. to George W.

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>From George W. to George W. 
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By Joseph J. Ellis
Joseph J. Ellis is the author "His Excellency" (Knopf, 2004), a biography of George Washington. His previous book, "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation," won the Pulitzer Prize.

January 2 2005

When F. Scott Fitzgerald said there were no second acts in American life, he was not thinking of the American presidency. But the dominant historical pattern reinforces Fitzgerald's point. Second terms are seldom as successful as first, often disappointing, sometimes disastrous. Most recently they have been defined by scandal (i.e. Watergate, Irangate, Monica Lewinsky). 

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ellis2jan02,1,4446484.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions 

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