True enough, but Johnson knew he'd be destroyed. So did Truman.

Washington bowed out knowing he would probably win easily.

On the other hand, there are damn few three-term presidents between Washington and Truman, so I assume many of them kept the tradition of self-limitation under circumstances where a third term would have been easy.

On the gripping hand, I'm not sure how many TWO term presidents there actually were. Not that many, I believe. Maybe the "three terms" choice rarely came up.

I used the words "modern politician" deliberately. I don't think they make them like they used to for the most part.