Presidents and First Ladies Trivia

[RJNorton]

Very good, Laurie! You are correct. Lucy Hayes, in explaining politics to her son, Birchard Austin Hayes, said this.

[Eva Elisabeth]

At university, one future president played the role of JWB in a play. The role of Lincoln was played by his classmate by the (real!) first name of "Lincoln". The president later recalled, the play's moral "was that men who take great risks often suffer great consequences".

Who played JWB?

[RJNorton]

Richard Nixon?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Great guess, Roger, but not him!

Hint #1: The performance took place in the 1940ies.

[Rogerm]

Was it the first George Bush?

[L Verge]

John F. Kennedy?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Excellent guesses, Roger and Laurie, but sorry, none of these two was it.

Hint #2: A thread on the forum is dedicated to this president.

[L Verge]

Gerald Ford?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Another smart guess, Laurie, but still not the right one.

Hint #3: The classmate's full name was Lincoln Mkentane.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Well, this should reveal him:

Hint #4: The headline of this trivia thread does NOT read "US Presidents and First Ladies Trivia"!

Hint #5: The sought-after passed away not long ago.

[RJNorton]

Well, this should reveal him:

Hint #4: The headline of this trivia thread does NOT read "US Presidents and First Ladies Trivia"!

Hint #5: The sought-after passed away not long ago.

Then I will guess Nelson Mandela!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Brilliant, Roger, it was Nelson Mandela who played JWB at the University of Fort Hare.
I hope you don't consider it too mean that I posted the question on this thread (I read the headline over and over! But it was not a too bad question at all, was it?).

For reconciliation, you win an extraordinary movie recommendation:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fFEgd08b7SY

U-Carmen is a stunning adaptation of Bizet's opera Carmen, acted and sung by the South African theater company, Dimpho Di Kopane (DDK). Re-imagined in the modern world of South African pool halls, bars, courtyards and barracks U-Carmen tells the story of a cigarette factory-worker, Carmen, (Malefane) and her doomed love affair with a police sergeant. As the two grow more emotionally connected, their relationship escalates violently, culminating in a tragic conclusion of revenge and madness.

The most fascinating is that the songs are sung in Xhosa language! Nelson Mandela was also a native Xhosa speaker. One of the most distinctive features of the language are the click consonants:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lrK-XVCwGnI

[RJNorton]

It was a terrific question, Eva, and I had no idea whatsoever until you gave those last two clues. The reason I had originally guessed Nixon was that I vaguely remember once reading he was involved in one or more theater productions as a young man.

[L Verge]

Very tricky, Miss Eva. Congratulations on a great question.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Not tricky, I promise:

1. Which president was described as follows:

"In a short, he was ...a man to be respected for his talents, admired for his learning, honored for his integrity and simplicity, but hardly possessing traits of character to inspire a stranger with affection."

2. By whom (was he described this way)?