LET'S AMEND ARTICLE II, SECTION 1 OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution lists the Qualifications for the Office of President. Our President must be a "natural born citizen" of this country, at least 35 years old, and a resodemt in this country for 14 years. The "natural born" provision prevents me, Henry Kissinger, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and any other naturalized citizen from running for the highest office in the land. It is high time to eliminate the provision that requires our President to be born in the United States.

As for myself, I probably couldn't get elected dog catcher. Henry Kissinger, a great statesman and national security expert, is so controversial that, had he chosen to run for President at a younger age, he probably wouldn't have been elected. Gov. Schwarzenegger would have a hard time getting elected President with the womanizer baggage he carries. However, there are many notable naturalized citizens who have lived in this country for many years and who would, if qualified to run, be outstanding canditates for the Office of President.

At the time our Constitution was adopted, there may have been good reasons to require that our President be born in this country, but this is the 21st century. We are a nation of immigrants. Immigrants have made many outstanding contributions in the fields of science, medicine, industry, economy, education, military service, and public service, It does not speak well of us as a nation that these good citizens cannot seek the Office of President.

Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution should be amended to eliminate the "natural born citizen" provision. A well qulified natrualized citizen who has lived in this country for at least 14 years should not be barred from seeking this nation's highest office. Let the people decide whether or not they want to elect an immigrant President should one chose to run for that office.

The President of the United States is the Commander in Chief of our nation's armed services. Many of our military leaders have been elected President. George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower are just a few of those who come to mind. John F. Kennedy and George H. W. Bush almost lost their lives in combat. On the other hand Bill Clinton was a draft dodger, while our current President has a dubious record of service in the National Guard.

The President ought to have some first-hand experience with our military because he is the Commander in Chief. Article II, Section 1 should also be amended to require that the President must have served honorably for four years in one of the branches of our armed services. I am not suggesting that a Presidential candidate have combat experience, only that he will have served honorably with our armed forces, either in a time of peace or a time of war.

I doubt whether I will live to see the day our Constitution is ammended so that a naturalized citizen can become President and so that the Commander in Chief will have served in the military before assuming that office. These amendments will ensure that every qualified citizen will have the opportunity to be elected President, regardless of where he or she was born, and that the Commander in Chief will have had some first-hand military experience.