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Comment by oceanplexian | Hacker News Reader

Presidents have always acted unpresidential but the difference is that Twitter and TV didn't exist then. Lincoln was notorious for using profanity, more than a few (Including Jackson) killed someone in a duel. While some presidents have been more controversial, and outspoken than others, the idea that there is a "well mannered" presidential archetype is a myth.

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profanity isn't a real conduct issue, though, unless the president is using it in speeches or in diplomacy in such a way that it makes the country look bad.

and I doubt many people who dislike trump would accept jackson as an archetype of acceptable presidential behavior.

I tend to agree but there are exceptions such as the Philippine foreign minister, Teddy Locsin, who told the Chinese Navy to "get the fuck out" of their waters via Twitter.

None of your examples are on a public stage for a mass audience.

It's different.

What you say to the crowd has distinctly different impact than what you say "in the locker room" to an acquaintance.

But if you then brag about your locker room conversation to a journalist while on the record, that then become in the public stage.

also, the issue with the access hollywood tapes wasn't that it was "locker room talk" that got public, it was that what he said was morally pretty disgusting. people were mad about what he said, not the manner or forum in which he said it

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