Leadership: A Study of Presidential Leadership

Every four years Americans elect a President they hope exhibits the leadership character of a Washington, a Lincoln, or a Roosevelt. After the election, their high expectations are frequently dashed leaving many Americans skeptical of the electoral process and doubtful if another Great leader will become President. Is this expectation unrealistic? Is a republican form of government with its frequent elections capable of producing a constant flow of Great Leaders? Do Americans recognize the leadership ability in Presidential Candidates? Do Americans recognize the leadership qualities of the President? Is it an unrealistic expectation? Leadership is elusive. Consequently, it is often missed or overlooked by the electorate in the emotional heat of the political battles. Usually, Great Leaders are not discovered or recognized or judged Great Leaders until time distances them from the Oval Office. Regardless, there are ways and means of identifying leadership. This study identifies and examines several leadership models to be used for the purpose of reviewing each 20th Century President and evaluating their on-the-job- performance, ending with a rank ordering of the Presidents. The study closes with an application of the leadership models to Presidential aspirants to identify and assess their leadership abilities. Course requirements include several short papers, participation, and several position papers.