It’s sad, and a bit unfair, that our presidents tend to get remembered

mostly for odd incidents, of the kind that could happen to anyone.

Jimmy Carter — Fighting off that rabbit

Gerry Ford — Bumping his head while leaving the presidential helicopter

LBJ — lifting up that beagle by its ears

Bill Clinton — The meaning of “is”

Etc. etc.

Personally, I remember Ford for the Mayaguez incident, Carter for his

stunned surprise on figuring out that Leonid Brezhnev had been telling him

whoppers, Clinton for the Elias Gonzalez kidnapping. LBJ? Er, showing his

appendectomy scar…