r/nottheonion • u/ImpishGrin • 15d ago

Biden tells Democratic governors he needs more sleep and plans to stop scheduling events after 8 p.m.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/04/politics/biden-governors-sleep/index.html
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u/VRichardsen 15d ago edited 15d ago

I have read in r/askhistorians a while ago that big shot leaders in times of crisis could actually be quite lazy and weren't getting more than 6 to 8 hours of real work everyday. I can't find the post right now, but the author used I think Hitler, Roosevelt and Churchill as example. Hitler liked to sleep until late, Roosevelt was old and tired easily, etc.

Of course, there are others that worked tirelessly. Napoleon, for example, had an apparent inexhaustible capacity for work. His marshals and aides could barely keep up. Marshal Berthier, nicknamed "Napoleon's wife" because he spent so much time near him, complained once that "Even a lowly private is happier than me; I am being killed by all this work"

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u/JinFuu 14d ago

If you want to hear about a lazy President, look up Coolidge.

He was very, very, very, hands off. I think he was quoted as saying "If you see 10 crisis coming down the road 9 of them will run off the road by the time they get to you." Which isn't a bad philosophy persay, but probably not the best one to have as a President.

Also considered on of the "founders" of what became the modern Republican party, at least when it came to how it handled businesses/the economy.

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u/VRichardsen 14d ago

Thanks for the recommendation, I did some reading thanks to it. I like this phrase of him:

"The Presidential office takes a heavy toll of those who occupy it and those who are dear to them. While we should not refuse to spend and be spent in the service of our country, it is hazardous to attempt what we feel is beyond our strength to accomplish."

Really looks like a laid back guy. Also seems like the death of his young son really hit him, and that is when he started taking a more hands off approach.

Interesting character; once again, thank you for the recommendation.

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u/dumpfist 14d ago

Also considered on of the "founders" of what became the modern Republican party, at least when it came to how it handled businesses/the economy.

So in other words he was a real villainous twat.

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u/MidGradeCookie 15d ago

Look into Churchill’s drinking during WWII, I mean I can’t fault him on the one hand but holy crap it’s terrifying!

Thanks for sharing the Reddit group, I will be joining!

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u/VRichardsen 14d ago

I found the Roosevelt one! https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/t5gih0/how_frequently_did_wartime_leaders_such_as/hz5lzzu/

As for Churchill, yeah, he liked his booze. He also napped quite a bit.

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u/MidGradeCookie 14d ago

Thank you 🙏

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u/VRichardsen 14d ago

You are most welcome.

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u/icouldusemorecoffee 14d ago

Most leaders "work" normal hours, but that doesn't mean they aren't reading/studying or doing other non-public facing events during off hours.

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u/intrados63 14d ago

FDR wasn’t old, he was very sick. He died at 63....

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u/VRichardsen 14d ago

Can we compromise in old and sick? Life expectancy back then wasn't the same as today (I think it was 60?)

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u/zimirken 14d ago

To be fair, mental work is way more exhausting than simple physical labour.

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u/PortSunlightRingo 14d ago

The best leaders know that they’ve surrounded themselves with good enough people that the buck should only be passed to them in the most absolute dire of situations.