--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Presidents at the end of their second…" description: "\"Presidents at the end of their second term - Reagan with the Iran-contra affair, Clinton with Monica Lewinsky - often find they are bedevilled by hosti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/gavin-esler-4699_affair_presidents-at-the-end-of-their-second-te_1364473.png" --- # Presidents at the end of their second term - Reagan with… ![“Presidents at the end of their second term - Reagan with the Iran-contra affair, Clinton with Monica Lewinsky - often find they are bedevilled by hostile Congressional investigations.” quote by Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/gavin-esler-4699_affair_presidents-at-the-end-of-their-second-te_1364473.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/gavin-esler-4699_affair_presidents-at-the-end-of-their-second-te_1364473.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8c/gavin-esler-4699_affair_presidents-at-the-end-of-their-second-te_1364473.png) > “Presidents at the end of their second term - Reagan with the Iran-contra affair, Clinton with Monica Lewinsky - often find they are bedevilled by hostile Congressional investigations.” [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Former presidents often encounter hostile investigations after two terms, showing that power can attract scrutiny and political fallout. **In simple terms:** Power can attract scrutiny after leaving office. Key Takeaway Prepare for accountability. Themes politics accountability power legacy Mood critical reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - post-presidential careers - policy advocacy - legal challenges Key Concepts institutional checks media scrutiny public trust Questions to Reflect On - How does scrutiny affect future leaders? - What safeguards can reduce politicized investigations? A Different Perspective Not all investigations are hostile; some are necessary for transparency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) ## Related quotes > [Congressional investigations...are still being held on the problem of unidentified flying objects and the problem is one in which there is quite a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hanes-ayres/congressional-investigations-are-still-being-held-on-the-problem-of/) William Hanes Ayres > [Bringing the IRS to heel can start with re-energizing and expanding congressional investigations and holding accountable those responsible for the targeting and other abuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleta-mitchell/bringing-the-irs-to-heel-can-start-with-re-energizing-and-expanding/) Cleta Mitchell > [“The only legitimate purpose of congressional investigations is to determine whether there should be legislation to deal with certain problems and how that legislation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-horowitz/the-only-legitimate-purpose-of-congressional-investigations-is-to/) [David Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-horowitz/) > [In the absence of full-fledged Congressional investigations, American policymakers rarely look back. They are bound by continuity and fealty across administrations and generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/in-the-absence-of-full-fledged-congressional-investigations-american/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I know whenever it comes to be really dysfunctional and vile and base and hostile on screen, I'm good at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-know-whenever-it-comes-to-be-really-dysfunctional-and-vile-and-base/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to assume that their president, hostile to the principles that formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shapiro/when-in-the-course-of-human-events-it-becomes-necessary-for-one/) [David Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shapiro/) > [It's hardly news that the Obama administration is intensely and, in many respects, unprecedentedly hostile toward the news-gathering process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-hardly-news-that-the-obama-administration-is-intensely-and-in/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [If America is truly Israel's greatest ally, we should not be asking it to put its citizens and future at risk by forcing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hasner/if-america-is-truly-israel-s-greatest-ally-we-should-not-be-asking-it/) [Adam Hasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hasner/) > [Many men without morals have attacked religion because it was contrary to their inclinations. Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [It is easy to speak words of love, or to meditate lovingly upon those people with whom you are in harmony. 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Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) ## More by Gavin Esler > [The skills necessary to change nappies or negotiate Brexit are obviously very different, but both involve a great deal of trust in the competence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/the-skills-necessary-to-change-nappies-or-negotiate-brexit-are/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [The country I live in is never clear about its name. My passport says 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/the-country-i-live-in-is-never-clear-about-its-name-my-passport-says/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [Personally, I hope that we British continue to criticise America - just as I hope Americans will criticise us. That is what friends do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/personally-i-hope-that-we-british-continue-to-criticise-america-just/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [As a teenager in Scotland, I had American friends, sons and daughters of officers at a U.S. Air Force base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/as-a-teenager-in-scotland-i-had-american-friends-sons-and-daughters/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [There's no doubt that prog rock has an image problem: many musicians hate the label, and too many people associate it with 10-minute drum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/there-s-no-doubt-that-prog-rock-has-an-image-problem-many-musicians/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [The Cold War, Bosnia and Ukraine remind us that peace is fragile. Iraq and Syria remind us that no society or culture is immune…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/the-cold-war-bosnia-and-ukraine-remind-us-that-peace-is-fragile-iraq/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [Let me say it up front: I don't like bad hair or capes. I'm not into witches, warlocks or elves. 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It demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/democratic-government-is-difficult-it-is-much-more-difficult-than/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [American elections have usually turned on the issues of war, peace and the economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/american-elections-have-usually-turned-on-the-issues-of-war-peace-and/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [At seven years old, I won a scholarship to George Heriot's School, an independent school in Edinburgh, and I was there until I was 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/at-seven-years-old-i-won-a-scholarship-to-george-heriot-s-school-an/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [There is so much unreliable information on the internet and in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/there-is-so-much-unreliable-information-on-the-internet-and-in-the/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [International politics attracts politicians who talk a good game, but whose achievements are often slender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/international-politics-attracts-politicians-who-talk-a-good-game-but/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [We need to create a sense of shame about racism, and about leaders who deliberately mislead and lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/we-need-to-create-a-sense-of-shame-about-racism-and-about-leaders-who/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) [Explore all 107 Gavin Esler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) ## More Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. 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The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [“I ripped the sketch from the wall. "Liar." Edward looked more ravaged than usual. "That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." "And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-ripped-the-sketch-from-the-wall-liar-edward-looked-more-ravaged/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. 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