A politician never forgets the precarious nature of elective life. We have never established a practice of tenure in public office.

Humphrey underscores a defining feature of American democratic politics: officeholding is contingent, not guaranteed. The “precarious nature of elective life” points to the constant vulnerability of politicians to voter judgment, shifting coalitions, scandal, and changing public priorities. By contrasting this with “tenure,” he implies that public office is not (and should not become) a protected career entitlement; legitimacy must be renewed through elections rather than secured by permanence. The remark also carries a practical subtext: because reelection is uncertain, politicians are perpetually attentive to public opinion and political survival—sometimes for good (responsiveness), sometimes for ill (short-termism).