Rob Tye writes:

"But it is interesting to consider the question, why compare economists to
recent US presidents?  Why not say, Professors of Pure Mathematics?  For I
think only a satirist would suggest an oath of truthfulness even needful,
regarding Pure Maths."

The name "Lobachevsky" comes to mind. 
"The new math" - that became a political football.
Darwin, pro and con, is as political as they come. Malthus? Eugenics?
Anthropogenic global warming? Medicine? Pest control? Lysenko?
Astronomy? Geocentrism surely died hard.

No, purity of motive and freedom from prejudice hardly can be assumed in any
discipline.

Regretfully,
Mason Gaffney