What are we to make of these new patterns and practices in the careers
of democratic politicians? We might start by returning to Taft’s identification
of the concerns of ex-presidents. To the public, Taft reminds
us, living ex-leaders raise the “troublesome fear” that they might return.
For well over a century, there have been proposals to address this apprehension,
often by securing the presidents in honorific positions with
adequate pensions—and no powers.