There have been stories for years about Kennedy taking non-prescription drugs. He had several painful conditions requiring something.
And if you ever saw him in person, as I did very briefly, you couldn't help but be impressed by his glowing look of health and vigor. I guess drugs can do that, at least for a while.
Of course, whatever Kennedy hid from the public, it was pretty small compared to FDR's being elected four times without the public's even knowing he was crippled and condemned to a wheelchair. Hidden leg braces plus someone next to him holding his arm gave the illusion he could stand.
Lincoln was a man with a very serious form of depression, something which would disqualify him today, as Senator Eagleton was disqualified to run for Vice President in 1972 because of his depression treatment. There was also the case of Senator Muskie being disqualified for crying in public.
Andrew Jackson was mentally unbalanced, engaging a number of times in caning opponents and pistol duels. Some of his policies are just what you might expect from a madman.
There were a number of alcoholic presidents, including Nixon in his decline. Bush is of course a "dry drunk" as you are never healed from alcoholism, and he was a hard drinker. He also is widely known to have used cocaine, right up into the time his father was in the White House.
It appears there is no consistency in these matters. Some have been caught and disqualified in the public mind, others have successfully hidden their conditions.
