MATTHEW PICCOLO
Staff Writer
Only a nut would aspire to the United States presidency. Americans constantly ridicule and criticize their commanders-in-chief while simultaneously expecting them to eradicate poverty and crime, secure peace in the Middle East and make Republicans and Democrats play nice. Most presidential hopefuls must be either power hungry or masochistic and thus incapable of effective leadership. The best candidate for president is one who does not want to be president.
Presidential debates highlight the deep desire some have to relocate to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Each candidate, perfectly prim and proper, stands before the American people to convince them that only he or she can lead the United States to prosperity. Their trite sayings, clever slogans, and painfully dry humor intended to attract voters repel many. Some seem to have had their ascent to power mapped out since first grade and some are making a second or third attempt. The problem is that people who seek power tend to abuse it.
The sad experience of history demonstrates that when most humans get a little authority they begin to exercise it to command and control others for their own benefit. This destructive frailty of human nature can afflict even the most humble of people and is particularly acute with those who relish the thought of gaining power even before they obtain it. Look no further than to men like Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and Mao who are responsible for tens of millions of deaths. Thankfully, these despots are not the norm.
The American system of checks and balances has prevented U.S. presidents from reaching that extreme so far. But here too the allure of power requires constant care to select modest leaders. The less one craves power, the more likely he or she can be trusted with it. The best candidates are those who want to serve, not rule.
An ideal presidential candidate has a clear vision, communicates it well to others, works hard and bases decisions on principle rather than on politics. He also considers himself to be inferior or equal, not superior, to his constituents. As Jesus said, “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.”
Such a candidate chooses to run only after his fellow citizens beg him to out of respect. He considers himself wholly inadequate for the job but his patriotism and sense of duty, not vain ambition, spur him to action. When elected, this person’s motives will be pure.
Such a candidate’s first term agenda will not revolve around getting re-elected. He will ignore partisan politics to act in the best interest of the people. His political capital will be overflowing because his constituents honor and trust him. That trust will instill in him a desire not to let them down. George Washington best exemplifies this brand of leader.
Washington was the most respected man of his time in the United States. Without his presence at the Convention, the Constitution would not have been drafted. He received all of the electoral votes for president in both 1789 and 1792. He tried to decline his salary but Congress did not allow it. In his Farewell Address, Washington told Americans that he agreed to be president only because they desired it and because he was inclined to fulfill his duty as a public servant.
After his first term, Washington had prepared a farewell address but served another term to provide continuity during a time of precarious foreign relations and to fulfill the wish of the people. He chose retirement over a third term. Humble leadership like Washington’s is scarce, but Dwight D. Eisenhower’s closely resembles it.
After a distinguished military career and heroic effort in World War II, Eisenhower returned to private life. For four years, Americans organized Draft Eisenhower movements to encourage him to run for president. He turned down pleas from the Democratic and Republican parties to run on their ticket.
Eisenhower was finally persuaded to run after his name was placed on the New Hampshire primary ballot without his permission and he won. A C-SPAN survey of 58 historians ranked him the ninth best leader of all U.S. presidents and George Washington third.
The desire to serve the public is good, but to seek power and authority is not. The best presidential candidates prefer to work in the trenches but rise up when called to duty.
Fred Thompson appears to be the lone current candidate who had to be persuaded to run, but voters will have to decide which candidate, if any, is fit for the job.
11-15-2007