Steve and Jackie, You would be interested in Mark Twain's declaring himself available as a candidate for president in 1879. His basic platform seems to be one of honesty about his "total depravity," and his only promise is to remain depraved. Therefore, he implies that, unlike other candidates, he is "a safe man" for the job. He says he enters the race with an "open record," freely admitting treeing and shooting his rheumatic grandfather, burying his dead aunt (who needed burying any way) so that she fertilizes his gravevine, and running from the Battle of Gettysburg (not, as his friends tried to amend, leaving in order to pray but because he preferred that someone else save his country, as he still prefers). As to his views on finance, he does not take sides between paper and hard money; he bluntly states his financial policy, "The great fundamental principle of my life is to take any kind I can get," and asserts his campaign slogan, "Desiccate the poor workingman; stuff him into sausages," for, as is, poor people are "wasted raw material," but--"cut up and properly canned"--they can usefully fatten the natives of cannibal islands, with, no doubt, a profit for American industries. The Constitution does not forbid anyone holding these views from being president. Why should he be the first to be limited by such prejudices? This item appears under the title "A Presidential Candidate," dated June 9, 1879, in volume one of the Library of America book of Mark Twain's sketches, tales, and essays edited by Louis Budd (pp. 140-141). I know that I have read other references by him to the presidency. I just happen to have recalled this one when I read your request. You will likely receive a number of responses. Good luck. John H. Davis Chowan College