Your correspondent has been reading a remarkable book, Jon Meacham’s The Soul of America; the Battle for our Better Angels. For those who are dismayed by the present political condition of our nation, Meacham offers comforting words that we’ve seen these days before and we always have come out of them because this nation refuses to be consumed by fear and grows greater because it remains a nation of hope.
If you have not read it, get it. If you are less than optimistic in these complicated times, Meacham will teach you that we live in a resilient nation. I am reminded of the musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown in which Molly proclaims early in the story, “Nobody wants to see me down like I wants to see me up!”
Our book club’s membership rules are simple. Get the book. Read it. We won’t hold meetings except in this space, which means there’s plenty of room for discussion and we don’t have to worry about staying six feet apart.
Beginning today, we’re going to reach into this book that is filled with quotations from our presidents to provide you with a weekly quotation on the presidency at least through the election. We begin with this observation from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican who served 1953-1961:
I happen to know a little bit about leadership. I’ve had to work with a lot of nations, for that matter, at odds with each other. And I tell you this: you do not lead by hitting people over the head. Any damn fool can do that, but it’s usually called “assault”—not “leadership.”…I’ll tell you what leadership is. It’s persuasion—and conciliation—and education—and patience. It’s long, slow tough work. That’s the only kind of leadership I know—or believe in—or will practice.”
We’ll have another thought from another president next Friday.
Your correspondent has been reading a remarkable book, Jon Meacham’s The Soul of America; the Battle for our Better Angels. For those who are dismayed by the present political condition of our nation, from whatever perspective you see it, Meacham offers comforting words that we’ve seen these days before and we always have come out of them because this nation refuses to be consumed by fear and grows greater because it remains a nation of hope.
If you have not read it, get it. If you are less than optimistic in these complicated times, Meacham will teach you that we live in a resilient nation. I am reminded of the musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown in which Molly proclaims early in the story, “Nobody wants to see me down like I wants to see me up!”
Our book club’s membership rules are simple. Get the book. Read it. We won’t hold meetings except in this space, which means there’s plenty of room for discussion and we don’t have to worry about staying six feet apart.
Beginning today, we’re going to reach into this book that is filled with quotations from our presidents to provide you with a weekly quotation on the presidency. We begin with this observation from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican who served 1953-1961:
I happen to know a little bit about leadership. I’ve had to work with a lot of nations, for that matter, at odds with each other. And I tell you this: you do not lead by hitting people over the head. Any damn fool can do that, but it’s usually called “assault”—not “leadership.”…I’ll tell you what leadership is. It’s persuasion—and conciliation—and education—and patience. It’s long, slow tough work. That’s the only kind of leadership I know—or believe in—or will practice.”
We’ll have another thought from another president next Friday.