In fact, during the six years that I worked with him, I knew nothing about his politics either, except that he seemed fascinated by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was president during his formative years.

FORBES: Obama's Leadership Lesson: Hire People 'To Tell You The Truth'

You might be tempted to say that the Big Ten is the Susan Lucci of presidential politics -- except that the soap opera actress, after years of being passed over, finally was awarded an Emmy.

CNN: Presidential jinx for Big Ten graduates

You might be tempted to say that the Big Ten is the Chicago Cubs of presidential politics -- except, even though it has been more than a century, the Cubs did win a World Series.

CNN: Presidential jinx for Big Ten graduates

He may leave behind nothing, except perhaps the lingering sense that politics can rise above rancor.

CNN: Nice guy looks to finish first in Maine governor's race

"Christmas is coming up, there's going to be some bowl games, and politics will be on the back burner except for in the mail, " Dawson said.

CNN: GOP race still wide open in South Carolina

This might be a cause for worry, except that proportional representation, in Scotland's four-party politics, makes it unlikely that any one party will have outright control.

ECONOMIST: Devolution