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Characteristics Of An American President

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Throughout American history, there have been certain leaders of our country that hold qualities that make them out to be some of the greatest world leaders of all time; great leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or Calvin “Silent Cal” Coolidge. The commonalities between them is what made them such great American Presidents and such great men. However there are three very outstanding characteristics that outshined any others: the bravery they displayed while holding their prestigious position, their ability to connect and communicate with the public, and their unmatchable political and historical knowledge and skill. When an American President sits in the Oval Office, one main thing that the American people …show more content…

When Abraham Lincoln was trying to get the Thirteenth Amendment to pass, he faced a multitude of dilemmas. One very admirable characteristic of Lincoln’s was that he was able to evaluate the powers given to him by the Constitution, as well as use and apply them as he saw fit. When discussing the amendment with his cabinet, he had to discern an ideal given in the Constitution regarding the seizure of property in times of war, which he had to display was not an option to implement, as the entire concept of the Thirteenth Amendment in itself was to view slaves as people, and not property. Along the lines of political discernment, when President Roosevelt was faced with The Great Depression, he was forced to deal with an unprecedented economic downturn. Although, “to him the Depression was not just another cyclical downturn, but a long-brewing crisis whose dislocations could wreak permanent economic, political, and social havoc if not managed smartly.” He was able to use his political skill and sense of history to not only understand that this was not a problem with a simple solution, but needed to be handled in a diplomatic and politically mature way. Finally, in one of the bravest and perhaps daring implications of political skill and knowledge, was President Coolidge’s decision on what to do regarding Harding’s Teapot Dome Scandal. “He appointed a special counsel to investigate the Teapot Dome oil-lease scandal...and he dismissed Harding’s tarnished U.S. attorney general, Harry M. Daugherty” Coolidge’s presidency in itself was one of the most important, if not the one singular factor that restored respect, faith, and integrity into the government, changing the people’s view of it forever from then

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