Leadership

Robert P. Watson

The issues change over time and new challenges emerge. The one constant on which people ought to be able to rely is leadership. If we elect the right leaders (leaders who are honest, leaders who respect the people, and leaders who exhibit moral courage) we can confront any problem we face. Indeed, one of the lessons I learned as a professor who has studied and written books about America's history is, quite simply, that leadership matters.

I always tell my students that even though many of the policy issues confronting us are complex, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out how to remedy them. We know, for instance, how to solve the budget deficit, how to improve the quality of our schools, and how to protect our National Parks. What we need is leaders with a moral compass and the courage to make the right decisions. We have had enough elected officials promoting special interests, narrow interests, and their own interests.

Every day politicians in Washington are confronted with choices and their decisions ultimately reflect their values and priorities. Obviously, when our leaders choose to spend recklessly, amassing record budget deficits while at the same time extending tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the richest Americans (the very same people who need the cuts the least) the result is a ballooning national debt and a widening gap between the rich and poor. When, as was the case with the Bush administration, our leaders allow defense contractors with direct ties to the White House to receive no-bid "buddy" contracts and overcharge the country to the tune of millions of dollars of wartime profiteering - while those in uniform are making the ultimate sacrifice - the result is a failure to win the peace. Or the respect of much of the world.

I ask you, would you vote for dependence on Middle East oil and soaring healthcare costs? Would you vote for polluted air and dirty water? To limit stem cell research and the promise of curing terrible diseases? Or would you vote to give tax breaks to corporations outsourcing American jobs overseas. Of course not! But that is exactly what we did during the Bush years. It is time for leaders with the integrity to tell the truth and the moral courage to fight for our people not special interests.

I believe one of the best examples of leading by moral courage in American politics was displayed by President Harry Truman. It came in the year 1948, an election year, and it came not once but twice. Politicians are not known for making bold or courageous decisions in an election year for fear of upsetting the voters. But most politicians are not Harry Truman. In 1948, Truman faced two pressing human rights issues, both with the potential to undermine his campaign on account of serious opposition during an election year.

The first was statehood for Israel. Worldwide, Jews had been risking their lives in makeshift boats in an effort to make it to Palestine, while an assortment of groups – from Truman’s own State Department, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to the British government, to politicians and voters in the American South – lined up against Truman’s intention to support Israeli statehood. Truman knew that he needed the South to carry the election in 1948 and knew that his support for Israeli statehood might cost him the election. Yet, Truman did not waiver, recognizing Israel at 6:11 PM on May 14, 1948, the first head of state in the world to do so, and only 11 minutes after the Israelis proclaimed statehood.

Later that summer, Truman faced another explosive situation in his effort to desegregate the U.S. armed forces. Touched by the bravery of the Tuskegee Airmen and the many minorities who served with honor, Truman knew it was the right decision to make in order to advance human rights. But, once again, he faced bitter opposition from many in high military command, the political establishment, and southern voters. Again, even though Truman’s campaign was hanging in the balance, he proudly signed Executive Order 9981.

To Truman’s mind, if it was the right thing to do then, so be it, he would do it. Or, as he liked to joke of politicians who worry about their popularity more than justice, "How far would Moses have gone in Egypt if he had a pollster?" A lesson I have learned from Truman is that it is possible to do what is unpopular but right and still win an election. And the lesson of Truman, or Rosa Parks, or Martin Luther King, or George Washington... is that one person can make a difference when armed with the moral courage to attempt to do so!

I believe we need a change of leadership, but more importantly we need a change in the practice of politics. We need a new politics of responsibility, rooted in personal integrity, seriousness of purpose, and true community service!