Presidential illness and disability: the health and performance of presidents from 1789-1901

Abstract

Presidential health and performance has been a subject of study by both political scientists and historians, many of whom have examined the health of our nation's presidents. This study of presidential history is not new. Many monographs and articles have examined this subject in great detail. While these have led to new interpretations of presidential history, they are inadequate for understanding the problem that presidential ill health and disability have presented during our nation's history. Most studies focus only on the twentieth century and the importance of health into the modern presidency. While the focus of health on the modern presidency has greatly changed our understanding of individual presidents and their effect on history, it nonetheless presents only a partial picture of the problem, since it neglects the effect of presidential health during the early years of the republic. I argue that presidential health has always been of prime importance and its effect is certainly not limited to recent decades. This study will also focus, when appropriate, on the health of the vice president during certain administrations. Many primary source documents, along with various monographs provide great insight into the issue during the early years. The effects of presidential and vice presidential health led to attempted remedies in the nineteenth century, but not until the late twentieth century would they reach fruition