Barometer | 30 May 2019

Tears for fears

Theresa May welled up while announcing her resignation in Downing Street. How often do leaders cry?
— Lady Thatcher was seen to have tears in her eyes while being driven away from Downing Street for the last time.
— Tony Blair nearly broke down in public, but not while in office — while responding to the publication of the Chilcot Report in 2016.
— Several US presidents have been witnessed crying — and at a time when it was rare for men to be seen showing emotion in public. Dwight Eisenhower
had to cover his face with a napkin to hide his tears in 1952, when recalling wartime experiences.
— In the same year Richard Nixon was seen crying after surviving a funding scandal and being retained as vice-presidential candidate.
— Barack Obama was seen to wipe away tears on several occasions, from Aretha Franklin’s singing at his inauguration to his farewell speech.
— Australian prime ministers have been frequent blubbers.