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Private Notes
Go beyond the headlines and discover the dark, psychological history of one of our most beloved presidents. Discover the secret, psychological history of JFK. Historians reveal that the direction of President Kennedy's administration was significantly influenced by the president's chronic pain, and that his policies were often a product of his chemical dependency (as much as his political ideology). An examination of John F. Kennedy's physical condition while he was president reveals previously unknown ailments and medical treatments he was receiving for them.
An insight into the mood swings suffered by Winston Churchill, who apparently made rash political decisions while under the influence of alcohol.
Any series looking at flawed, substance-abusing leaders had to get around to Boris Yeltsin. The former Russian president (1991-'99) was not one to let official business get in the way of a good time and there's ample evidence of his fondness for a drink. Alcoholism, however, appears to have been the tip of the iceberg; Yeltsin was prone to hypomania and savage bouts of depression, attempted suicide on several occasions and was dogged by a near-fatal heart condition.
Combining extracts from Yeltsin's memoirs with the recollections of former bodyguards, colleagues and doctors, this episode paints a depressing picture of a man who coped badly with stress and squandered the opportunity to lay the seeds of a vibrant democracy. There are few surprises, but it does provide a good overview of his years at the top. And there's always that footage - Yeltsin flapping about on stage, dementedly conducting orchestras and staggering through ceremonial parades while those around him fight to maintain their fixed, diplomatic grins.
You don't have to be insane or drug addicted to lead a nation, though it helps. Some of the most powerful politicians of the 20th century were unbalanced, depressive, alcoholic or even senile. This documentary series examines the psychological lives of a few of them and the constitutional mechanisms and subtle management techniques used to cope with such leaders.
In the case of Ronald Reagan, whose presidency is examined tonight, it was early effects of Alzheimer's and the repercussions of an assassination attempt that marred his time in office. Elaborate attempts were made by aides to hide this from the public. We learn that on the morning after he was shot by a would-be assassin, for example, the delirious Reagan was given a piece of dairy farming legislation to sign, to give the world the impression he had complete control of his faculties even though he had lost half his blood and had recently emerged from a general anesthetic.
The psychological angle of this documentary is great, though the delivery can be mediocre. We hear all about how many times Reagan fluffed his lines and forgot words, yet there is little footage of this.
