Front cover image for The Character Factor : How We Judge America's Presidents

The Character Factor : How We Judge America's Presidents

James P. Pfiffner (Author)
Annotation The American president's character matters. To most Americans, it matters deeply. But how do we define what character means, and why can't we agree? In this sober, probing consideration of "the character factor" and the presidency, veteran political analyst James P. Pfiffner leads us through a survey of three aspects of presidential character that have proved problematic for recent chief executives: lies, promise-keeping, and sexual probity. His goal is not to tell us which presidents have been "good" and which "bad." Rather, he helps us think critically and impartially about complex character issues and invites us to reach our own conclusions. The Character Factor avoids both moral judgments and cynicism. It helps us look at our presidents (and our presidential candidates) without illusions, knowing that flawed men can still be great leaders but that some flaws deserve defeat at the polls--or even the ultimate presidential sanction, impeachment
eBook, English, 2003
TAMU Press [Imprint], Texas A & M University Press, College Station, 2003
Electronic books
Trade
1 online resource
9781585443161, 9781585443154, 9781603446297, 1585443166, 1585443158, 160344629X
842839285
Preface
Chapter 1 Judging Presidential Character
Chapter 2 The Nature of Presidential Lies
Chapter 3 Serious Presidential Lies
Chapter 4 Sexual Probity and Presidential Character
Chapter 5 Character, Consistency, and Campaign Promises
Chapter 6 Three Presidents in Crisis
Chapter 7 Character Complexity
Notes
Sources for Epigraphs
Index
Series Page