PrintFebruary 7, 2007
Personality Matters
Personality has been given a bad name. It is frequently used to denote someone famous for being famous. We use it as a mild compliment when someone's intellect is underwhelming, as in "he has such a nice personality." In politics pundits use it disparagingly as in "he's got personality but no substance." This is especially wrongheaded with regard to presidents, leading us to disregard traits which tremendously affect how they may behave and how effective they might be.Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. memorably opined about FDR that he had a "second-class intellect but a first-class temperament." We can quibble about the former but the latter was certainly true. Flexibility, optimism, good humor, energy and charisma rather than specific policy prescriptions or plans carried him and the country through the Depression and the preparation and conduct of World War II.Ronald Reagan, a great admirer of FDR, embodied many of these...(Read Full Article)
