7 Most Important Qualities for a President

I'm no political affeccionado, but I came across the Tim Russert Show the other night and he was speaking with the always interesting presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin about the most important qualities for a president to have. They tend to be based on history (i.e. the best presidents did these things, Lincoln, FDR etc.), and they are pretty generic (i.e. nonpartisan and not based on morals or anything like that). I thought It'd be interesting to share. Let me know what you think.

1. Withstand Adversity
2. Diverse Perspectives
3. Loyalty
4. Admit Mistakes
5. Emotion
6. Define Goals
7. Relax

When talking about diverse perspectives, Goodwin uses the example of Lincoln appointing his fiercest opponents to his cabinet. He apparently go ridiculed for it and basically said, "Hey, they are the best minds in the country. I need them on my side right now." A very interesting insight in light of our current political situation. She writes about this and other stories from Lincoln's presidency in her book that I want to read called Team of Rivals.

What do you think of this list? Which is the most important? Least? What would you add?

Honoring Dr. King

If anyone should have a day that America sets aside in their honor, it is Dr. Martin Luther King. I have been thinking about how to properly honor him on this day here at Nick's Musings, and I think I'm going to do it a la carte style. Several of the other blogs I read have posted tributes, so I am simply going to link to them here.

May we never forget the awesome message of peace, love, and nonviolence as modeled first by Jesus, then so wonderfully copied by Dr. King.

Enjoy!



Think Christian has posted this video of the Dr. King's famous speech (17:28).

Greg Boyd has written some good thoughts on how we should remember Dr. King.

Scot McKnight offers the transcript of the famous I Have a Dream Speech, posted above.

Liberty

As a nation we began by declaring that All men are Created Equal. We now practically read it “All men are created equal except negroes.” Soon it will read “All men are created equal except negroes and foreigners and Catholics.” When it comes to this I should prefer immigrating to some country where they make no pretenses of loving liberty; to Russia for instance, where despotism can be taken pure and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.

--Abraham Lincoln

Myth of the Week: Lincoln and Kennedy Really So Similar?

It's time once again for the weekly myth. The time when we look into history or science or politics etc. and find that which so many have repeated as fact, even when it's false.

This week we look at the myth that every one of has heard, about all of the coincidences and weird similarities between the lives and deaths of John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. I don't know about you, but I was even taught this in school! This article does a great job of pointing out the mistakes that this myth makes, as well as debunking some things that seem remarkable, but upon further review, are nothing special at all. It makes a person realize that you can really bend information and statistics to make your point when you want to. Check it out. It is a very worthy article to read and subject to ponder.