Being President

 

 

In light of the current crisis in our country, there has been much talk about the office of the presidency. Many have criticized Mr. Trump and many have supported him. It might be helpful to think out loud about what qualities a president should have to be effective.

 

A president should not only be intelligent but also well educated. To make sound decisions one must have an understanding of the world and its history. Not everyone can be an expert in all countries, but he or she should bring in people who are knowledgeable about certain areas of the world. John Kennedy surrounded himself with professors and highly skilled people. Ted Kennedy held seminars at friends’ homes in which he invited world experts to educate him about international issues. Obviously, such functioning takes a certain amount of humility on the part of the politician.

 

One would think that all presidents would have a strong work ethic. Most presidents are devoted around the clock to the job. George Bush Jr. was an exception as is Mr. Trump. Kennedy and Johnson seemed to thrive on their job: Trump does not. One wonders if he really wants to be doing the job of president.

 

JFK seemed to have the right temperament to be a president. He was cool under fire, didn’t get rattled easily, and used his sense of humor to deal with adversity. The press loved him, though they didn’t go easy on him. He wasn’t impulsive, he thought through situations, and he was open to counsel. He handled his wealth with taste.

 

Mr. Trump on the other hand is volatile, impulsive, and scattered. He rejects the wisdom of more experienced government people, though he has never held public office. “Stop tweeting”, his advisors say, but he continues. He doesn’t seem to understand the benefit of diplomacy. If Kennedy was a 12-meter yacht, Trump is a John Deere Bulldozer. If Obama was a Maserati, Trump is an 18-wheeler. 

 

Presidents need to be able to connect with people. Trump likes wealthy businessmen as friends, and though he claims to be a hero of the working man, one has to wonder in light of his lifestyle and long history of not paying people who worked on his projects. His crudeness appeals to a certain segment of the population, but many find him boorish. Kennedy was an international “rock star”, who drew large crowds to hear him speak. Trump brings protestors.