What Makes A Great President?

The same traits that make any good leader should be present in a good president. For example:

1. Strong-willed. A president must impose his will against the opposition of his most trusted advisers when his gut feeling says he is right. Eisenhower sent troops to the South to impose the new federal law regarding the end of segregation in public schools.

2. Willing to take risks. John F. Kennedy ordered the blockade of Cuba to prevent access by Soviet ships. This incident could have degenerated into a major confrontation between the two countries.

3. Ethical. Ethics must guide his every decision. William Jefferson Clinton showed his lack of ethics in both the Monica Lewinsky incident and his last minute pardon of a man facing criminal charges, Marc Rich. The presidency cannot be sullied by actions that betray the trust of the American people in this noble institution.

4. Charismatic. Though not a must quality, charisma has helped some presidents gain support among the American people for their key decisions. FDR galvanized male citizens into joining the Armed Forces when he gave his famous speech "Day of Infamy". John F. Kennedy persuaded the Soviet leadership that we would never back down as a nation when confronted during the missile crisis. He also gave a huge boost to the space program which culminated with our landing on the moon.

5. Skilled Negotiator. George W. Bush and his cabinet placed aggression before negotiations, resulting in a totally useless war, a very poor image on the international scene and a tottering economy. Nixon on the other hand, while lacking ethical values, proved his negotiating abilities in ending the Vietnam War and in establishing relations with China. Whether the merit rests with his Secretary of State Kissinger is another matter for discussion.

Jimmy Carter convinced Menachem Begin, the Israel leader, and Anwar el Sadat, President of Egypt, to agree to peace talks at Camp David. After negotiating with France, Jefferson persuaded Congress to acquire the then Louisiana Territory, increasing the size of the country immensely. Reagan successfully negotiated a reduction in nuclear missiles with Gorbachev, the head of the Soviet government.

These are examples of what diplomacy can accomplish whenever our leaders understand that force must be a last resort.

6. Role-Model in Their Personal Life. True enough, modern political campaigns tend to air dirty laundry and prevent scandal-laden candidates from reaching the presidency (exception: Bill Clinton, of course). Who can dispute the exemplary life of Eisenhower, George Washington and Harry Truman! We forgive peccadilloes; we understand human frailty. We admire frankness and public confessions, as was the case for the new governor of New York who had no compunction in venting his affairs during his first press conference.

However, would we elect Nixon nowadays, the master manipulator, or Lyndon Johnson, the sad-looking legislator from Texas? Would we elect Woodrow Wilson, the Baptist preacher, who nevertheless pushed through Congress valuable legislation such as the creation of the Federal Reserve? He unfortunately failed to convince the rest of the world to create the League of Nations.

Probably not, generating the question again: What makes a great president?

7. Honest Astuteness. We don't want a gullible president (Jimmy Carter?), and we don't want a malicious president who lies to the American people. We need a smart person who knows when not to reveal the truth - thus protecting innocent lives or significant and confidential negotiations - and when to come clean. Lying to Congress, Nixon and, again, Clinton, leads to impeachment. Lying to the American citizens results in a tarnished legacy and presidency. History has a way to put every President into the proper perspective.

8. Reflexive. The dictionary definition says:" Turned back on itself". We want a person who is able to analyze his/her own motives, emotions, traits, impulses, habits both good and bad, motivation and passions. A reflective president will avoid precipitous decisions which can harm the country, his own presidency and/or future generations. FDR could easily be a poster for reflection; he became famous for fireside chats on the radio ( Who nowadays listens to the current President's Saturday's radio address, a futile exercise from days past, when in modern times everybody pays attention to their Blackberry, computer or wi-fi cell phone?).

The opposite would be 'impulsive'. Again Nixon showed a total lack of control when he ordered the Watergate affair. Clinton could not keep his pants buttoned up when he met a pretty girl in the White House inner sanctum. The resulting scandal caused untold damage to our image worldwide.

9. Conscious of History. A President who has no historic vision, who has not learned from past lessons and mistakes, will repeat tragedies. Our present President got us involved in the Iraq mess, conveniently forgetting the Vietnam debacle. This president also failed to protect us adequately against terrorist attacks, i.e. 911, though his National Security Adviser had ample time to take the necessary measures after receiving warnings from FBI agents. We were the victims of several attacks before 9-11, one of them on the World Trade Center itself. Isn't there a think tank in Washington that analyzes all possible methods of attacks, including the kidnapping of commercial jets? Of course, there is; whether they advised the President or not of their conclusions is immaterial. "The buck stops here" isn't just a quaint expression; it is the true reflection of an immense responsibility. How many heads rolled after 9-11?

10. Good Judge of Character. The winning candidate should select his cabinet with only one purpose in mind: the best person for the job. Unfortunately, political debts are paid with powerful positions, thus resulting at times in the worst person for the job. Should we mention the deposed Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld probably chosen by Bush Sr. to push his agenda against Sadam Hussein?

How about Alphonso Jackson, the disgraced Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under George W. Bush. Or Warren G. Harding, who is famous for the corruption among his cronies.

If the cabinet positions are filled with incompetent and/or dishonest functionaries, the results can be catastrophic for the nation. Should we blame the federal government for the housing meltdown? Probably. Should we blame the government, i.e. the President for our disastrous foreign policy, a policy led by a very smart lady who hasn't shown the needed competence? Why get rid of Gen. Colin Powell? Was it because he disagreed with the President (gasp)?

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