We had just finished another memorable round of golf at Jug Mountain. My golf partner of many years and I have a habit of enjoying a beer after each round. It was a beautiful crystal clear day and for some reason we began talking about Leadership in our country. Surprisingly we both are very anxious, frustrated, frightened, angry, embarrassed, depressed, and generally discombobulated over our esteemed leader and perhaps the entire Republican Party. The lack of integrity, humility, respect, inclusiveness and statesmanship that exists is not acceptable. We agreed that all of us who share this concern for the future of our country must stand up and be counted. It was a quiet patio location and only one other person was present and he was a good distance away from us, neither of us are prone to being overly effusive. As we got up to leave the gentleman marched in a determined fashion up to us and said “I was not intending to listen but I agree with everything you two said.” Wow, he could have ignored the conversation which most of us often do but we appreciated his input and candor. Actually, we would have been fine if he disagreed and explained his point of view. The silent majority seems to feel that we need a significant change and we vowed to get involved when we are confronted with this unacceptable, destructive and demeaning rhetoric.
Perhaps our current book club reading list book set up this conversation. “Leadership in Turbulent Times” is a Pulitzer Prize winning book by noted Presidential Historian, Doris Kearns Goodwin. Goodwin reviews the life and leadership of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. Each leader was shaped by adversity overcome that help prepare them for their critical place in history. I remain in awe of Abraham Lincoln after the review of what he faced as the new President of a country in turmoil. On March 4, 1861, Lincoln began his Presidency and within four months seven southern states had passed resolutions to secede from the Union. Lincoln felt that succession threatened the country’s role as a beacon of hope to the world at large. Lincoln went on to say that preserving a united nation was critical to validate that “popular government is not an absurdity.” Failing to find a solution would prove the inability of our people to “govern themselves.” Lincoln knew he would need support and he built a cabinet of the most renowned leaders in the country, whether they agreed with him or not. “A team of independent strong minded men, all of whom were more experienced in public life, better educated, and more celebrated than he.” The three top cabinet positions went to men who felt they should be President not Lincoln. When asked why, Lincoln said, “the Country is in Peril.” We need the strongest and most able men in the country by our side. I will go on about this in a later message but leave it with this thought, our present leader is now surrounded by a cabinet of interim -acting with no congressional approval. Lincoln did not compromise his belief and the Emancipation Proclamation is a remarkable example. To demonstrate his sense of humor, Lincoln offered good advice “better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” To today’s leadership void, “nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” These are times that I believe are perilous to our nation.
When a beautiful vista does not distract you from affairs of the day, I suggest it means you should listen to your conscience. Enjoy the week end. Mike