In his 1976 SF novel Imperial Earth, by 2276, American Presidents will be
chosen by computer based on who is actually best qualified for the job.

There is a phrase in that era that the best person for the position is
the one who is dragged into the White House kicking and screaming.

I'm surprised they don't just let the computers run things, but Clarke
may have had HAL 9000 on his mind about that idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Earth

An aside: This novel is where I first learned that the US flag planted
by Apollo 11 in 1969 was blown over when the LM ascent stage took
off. There is a brief mention in the story about a debate whether to
pick up the flag and restore it standing upright, or leave it laying in
the regolith at Tranquility Base as part of the history of the event.

Something tells me this will become a real issue some day.