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Changing times: Politicians' tears seen more often as winners and losers dare to show emotions

The Associated Press

November 10, 2012 at 4:51AM

In this still image from a BarackObama.com campaign video, President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he thanks members of his campaign staff and volunteers in Chicago, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. The short speech came a day after he won re-election. The president talks about his work as a community organizer in Chicago and tells staffers and volunteers that they will do "amazing things" in their lives. Obama becomes emotional when he says that even before the election results, he felt the work he had done "had come full circle." He tells staff members that he is proud of the work they did, then pauses to wipe away tears. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

It seems out of place: The president of the United States breaking down in tears as he thanked campaign workers for their tireless work for his re-election.

But Barack Obama isn't the only world leader unashamed to be seen crying in public — or simply unable to avoid it. Attitudes seem to have changed since the early 1970s, when an alleged crying incident during the presidential primary season went a long way toward derailing the candidacy of a Maine senator.

The teary trend has picked up speed in recent years, or perhaps it has just been noticed more often because of ubiquitous TV, still and cellphone cameras. Here are some recent examples:

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

Victorious in his re-election campaign, Obama cried while giving a speech to his campaign staff and volunteers. He told the gathered young people there was no limit to what they could accomplish. The speech touched on his start as a community organizer in Chicago and reflected his faith that his young volunteers and staff would accomplish great things in the decades to come.

It was an emotional side of Obama that had rarely been visible during the long, often negative, campaign.

EVEN STRONG MEN CRY

Russian President Vladimir Putin is a judo fan and hunting aficionado known in part for his physical fitness. But that didn't stop him from welling up in March after he was returned to power in a difficult election battle marred by public protests. It was a break with Kremlin tradition in a country where leaders are rarely seen to show emotions.

A defiant Putin proclaimed that he and his followers had beaten back opponents determined to destroy Russia's statehood and usurp power.

The tears were ridiculed by his political opponents and drew some sarcastic comments from political foes in the United States, but did not seem to harm his standing.

NOT READY TO LEAVE

She was known as a strong, even imperious leader who thrived on power politics and led Britain in the war to recover the Falklands Islands. But the enduring image of Margaret Thatcher's departure from office is the tearful face captured by photographers in 1990 as she left 10 Downing Street for the last time.

The "iron lady" was removed as party leader and prime minister after 11 years in power and replaced by John Major. The crying incident is remembered as offering a rare glimpse into her personal feelings, which were typically kept far from public view.

GOODBYE, MAN FROM MAINE

Maine Sen. Edmund Muskie was a front-runner in the race for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination until he appeared to break down while defending his wife from an attack by an influential New Hampshire newspaper.

Muskie always claimed it was snowflakes, not tears, but the damage had been done. His supposed crying was perceived as a show of weakness and instability, and his campaign never recovered. His rival, Sen. George McGovern, won the nomination, but was later trounced by President Richard Nixon. Although Muskie's presidential hopes were dashed, he later became Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter.

THE WEEPER OF THE HOUSE

As Speaker of the House, Republican John Boehner holds one of the most powerful positions in the U.S. government — and he cries so frequently that Twitter jokesters have taken to calling him the weeper of the house. He tears up easily, particularly when talking about the American dream.

He's been known to cry at school events or when fielding questions from constituents or when talking about his family. A well-watched YouTube clip captures him choking up with tears when talking about the need to combat terrorism and provide safety and security for Americans.

FILE This Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010 file photo shows House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio with tears in his eyes as he celebrates the GOP's victory that changes the balance of power in Congress and will likely elevate him to speaker of the House, during an election night gathering hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Washington. It seems a strange sight: The president of the United States, sometimes called the most powerful person in the world, breaking down in tears thanking campaign workers for their tireless _ and ultimately successful _ work on his behalf. But Barack Obama isn't the only world leader unashamed or unable to avoid being seen crying in public. As Speaker of the House, Republican John Boehner holds one of the most powerful positions in the U.S. government _ and he cries so frequently that Twitter jokesters have taken to calling him the weeper of the house. He tears up easily, particularly when talking about the American dream. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

FILE This Feb. 26, 1972 file photo shows Sen. Edmund Muskie, D-Maine, denounces conservative Manchester Union Leader publisher William Loeb in front of the newspaper's Manchester, N.H., building. Muskie's emotional speech came as he campaigned for the New Hampshire primary and the Democratic presidential nomination, which slid off the tracks after it was reported that he had cried in response to the newspaper's attack on his wife. Muskie sustained until his death that it had been melted snowflakes, not a tear, in his eye. It seems a strange sight: The president of the United States, sometimes called the most powerful person in the world, breaking down in tears thanking campaign workers for their tireless _ and ultimately successful _ work on his behalf. But Barack Obama isn't the only world leader unashamed or unable to avoid being seen crying in public. (Associated Press - Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)