When Jeb Bush was asked recently how he planned to spend his first day after stepping down as governor of Florida, he reeled off a checklist of things he wanted to do: “I hope to wake up. Work out. Maybe read the local paper. Sports page probably. Hang out with my wife.”

About his longer-term plans, Mr Bush was more reticent. “I’m going to try to take some time off to reflect on what I should be doing and not rush into the next thing,” he said.