Virtue and Public Leadership
How we treat those demonstrating civic virtue determines what kind of leaders, and what kind of nation, we will have.
How does a nation develop virtuous public leaders?
It is astonishing just how explicit America’s founders were about the need for virtue in a nation like ours. But the way we teach the history of that era focuses on big events, constitutional structure, and key figures. Few know these quotes:
“Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.”
--George Washington (farewell address)
“The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue”
--John Adams (letter)
“Public virtue is the only foundation of republics.”
--John Adams (letter)
“Without virtue there can be no liberty.”
-- Benjamin Rush (speech)
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.”
--Benjamin Franklin (letter)
“To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.”
--James Madison (speech)
“He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue.”
--Samuel Adams (article)
So how are we doing in the development of virtuous leaders?
I have a new piece out today in Law & Liberty arguing that this era’s polarization has warped how we prepare people to be public leaders.
I use a scene from Gladiator to describe two competing visions of virtue. When we all aspire to a common good, we will naturally develop a certain type of leader. When we see the nation broken into two warring camps (us and them), we will naturally develop a very different type.
Scrreenshot from Gladiator (Universal Pictures)
At the end of the piece, I discuss how the demonstration of civic virtue by John Adams, Howard Baker, and Joe Lieberman advanced their careers and then compare those experiences with the political response to Robert Hur’s investigation.
In short, America always needs leaders who are widely respected for their integrity and ability. These figures are essential to the nation during our most difficult times. If we want leaders with virtue, we must celebrate public officials who demonstrate it.