What's in a name? Depends on how you write it

Graphologist Arlyn J. Imberman says the writing's on the wall — well, page — when it comes to the temperament and personalities of presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain. Our own Faye Fiore spoke with the handwriting expert:

"Obama is very much his writing — fluid, graceful. McCain's is angular and intense; he's a pit bull. And look at the perfectionism in Hillary's — straight up, precise. She is persistent and is not going to give up until she absolutely has to," said Imberman, a court-certified graphologist based in New York.

Presidential signatures are trademarks that grace everything from historic documents to the souvenir M&M's boxes handed out on Air Force One. And history suggests penmanship can reflect personality.

Abraham Lincoln set 3 million slaves free with a signature that was as modest and unadorned as he was. Ronald Reagan — the "great communicator" — penned rounded letters that radiated warmth. Jimmy Carter etched an autograph that was aloof and cerebral. And Richard Nixon, who entered the White House with a big, bold R and N, left in deflated disgrace, his signature collapsing as well.

More about the telltale signs in a signature from Faye's story.

Here's Lincoln's signature. You can track the changes in Richard Nixon's signature here. And just for the heck of it, here's Ross Perot.

—Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times