Were politicians pre 1960 afforded greater respect than their present day counterparts.?

Question

Were politicians pre 1960 afforded greater respect than their present day counterparts.?

Answer 1

Yes, there was more respect for the office of the presidency and also the house and senate members.  I think there have always been jabs taken at our politicians but they were tempered with some regard as to how it would effect the public.  

I think this ended with Clinton's impeachment to where it is now a free-for-all to dig up the dirt on anyone they can.  That was a mistake even worse than the one Bill made.  Eventually, maybe politicians will realize they must be held accountable for their actions.  They are our leaders and should be held to a higher standard.

Answer 2

Maybe...perhaps because we believed what they said then - Harold Macmillan told us 50 years ago that we never had it so good...there were people who could have returned a good argument - new West Indian immigrants included...but I guess uncle Harry's claim wasnae meant for them.

  Could you imagine any politician saying that now? In the UK, could be the early seventies was the turning point - not entirely because we were 'smarter'...but more cynical (not at the beginning, but from around 1972 onwards, we realised..with Heath getting kicked from coalfield to coalfield and Wilson, when he returned to power couldn't handle how questioning public were then...and this was before Thatcher and Blair).

Answer 3

Yes. Back in 1960 both parties respected each other. Now you still have the Republicans resprecting the Democrats. But you have the Democrats in "attack mode" attacking and defaming every Republican. Look how Hillary attacks Bush at every opportunity so she doesn't have to answer the questions. Someone should tell Hillary that Bush isn't running against her.

Answer 4

yes they were , however we were not as smart then either

Answer 5

pre 1960 the media were a lot less intrusive and agressive than today, therefore politicians were allowed a private life, which is virtually impossible today. wether that can be classed as being afforded more respect i dont really know, but i prefer todays system where politicians are more accountable, i think this outweighs the medias intrusiveness

Answer 6

Maybe but some of them were much better people and politicians than the useless bunch we have today.