But as the President of the United States, he is also much more than a man.

He represents one hundred millions of people; he represents the American Constitution; he represents the great principles of human freedom laid down by that Constitution; he represents also the idea of America, of everything American, of all the hopes, interests, and glories of the nation.

Officially he is quite as sacred as a divinity could be.

Millions would give their lives for him at an instant's notice; and thousands capable of making vulgar jokes about the man would hotly resent the least word spoken about the President as the representative of America.

The very same thing exists in other Western countries, notwithstanding the fact that the lives of rulers are sometimes attempted.
England is a striking example.