Ray Suarez heads up the discussion on presidential character. We get five perspectives now from NewsHour regulars Presidential Historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Michael Beschloss and Journalist and Author Haynes Johnson. But they don't plot out on ends of a continuum. No, of course not.
Character is important.
My objection was to the idea that you can get the right temperament, the right maturity, the right morals and predict a character who will be a good leader. We all know people who are of very equitable temperament and fine morals and great maturity but can' t lead, don't attract followers. Character is very important. In fact, I wrote a whole book on this about George Washington, that character was what this republic was built on. But character in the 18th century meant public reputation for public virtue.