Political scientist Rose McDermott of the University of California at Santa Barbara points out that it was the vice president's spot that would have been the really important one on a Tsongas ticket



Back in 1992, former Sen. Paul Tsongas was campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. The case of non-Hodgkins lymphoma he had in the 1980s wasn't a factor, he assured the country. "I went through the bone marrow transplant over five years ago, and five years is the standard definition of cured," he told reporters. "But the fact is, I've been out there for almost nine months, much longer than anybody else, and it has not affected my capacity to campaign." His doctors — even under direct questioning — denied the lymphoma had returned ... until after Tsongas dropped out of the race. "He started chemo the day he would have been inaugurated had he been elected," she said. "He would have died in office." The late Paul Tsongas, Senator from Massachusetts and candidate for President in 1992, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia in the 1960's.

Political scientist Rose McDermott of the University of California at Santa Barbara points out that it was the vice president's spot that would have been the really important one on a Tsongas ticket

To Tell or Not? Disclosing Candidate Health Issues

by Joanne Silberner

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Healthy Enough to Serve? A Look at Presidents and Candidates

Morning Edition, March 24, 2008 · During his first run for the White House in 2000, Republican John McCain released details about his bout with melanoma. And he has promised to release his full health records soon. No word so far from Democratic hopefuls Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton on their health records.

Historically, candidates have evaded questions about their own health — or even lied.

[Excerpt]

Back in 1992, former Sen. Paul Tsongas was campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination. The case of non-Hodgkins lymphoma he had in the 1980s wasn't a factor, he assured the country.

"I went through the bone marrow transplant over five years ago, and five years is the standard definition of cured," he told reporters. "But the fact is, I've been out there for almost nine months, much longer than anybody else, and it has not affected my capacity to campaign."

His doctors — even under direct questioning — denied the lymphoma had returned ... until after Tsongas dropped out of the race.

Tsongas was dead within three years.

Political scientist Rose McDermott of the University of California at Santa Barbara points out that it was the vice president's spot that would have been the really important one on a Tsongas ticket.

"He started chemo the day he would have been inaugurated had he been elected," she said. "He would have died in office."

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Headlines: March, 2008; RPCV Paul Tsongas (Ethiopia) ; Figures; Peace Corps Ethiopia; Directory of Ethiopia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Ethiopia RPCVs; Politics; Massachusetts