My column from today's paper.
President Obama’s speech on Sunday night elicited a plethora of responses running the gamut from highly critical to enthusiastic approval.
We are a nation in crisis, and Presidents have historically called forth the best from the citizenry in times like these. A crisis is an event that occurs suddenly, heightens tensions, induces stress, and when occuring in a political environment where stakes are high, there may be little time to decide, with decision-makers under intense pressure to perform in an atmosphere of uncertainty.
According to U.S. History.org, “The Constitutional power as "Commander in Chief" has evolved into the very important modern role of "crisis manager." In the 20th century, as the United States gained world leadership powers, the President has become a key player in international crises. In the case of war or even regional conflicts, the President must go into "emergency mode" and concentrate on the immediate problem. Domestically, crises may occur — such as urban riots, hurricanes, or forest fires — that require the President to schedule time to coordinate government responses to the situation.”
“More than anyone else, the President symbolizes the country — its people and its beliefs. Strong Presidents must exude confidence, not just in themselves, but in the American people as well.”
Leadership studies teach us that in “times of great upheaval, in war or crisis, in the life of a President, the public and Congress look to the president as crisis manager, leader, and problem-solver.
On March 4, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his first inaugural address, spoke the famous words, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
A lesser known line from that address was “We must move as a trained and loyal army willing to sacrifice for the good of a common discipline.”
The crisis our nation faced at that time was not one of a war on terrorism but the fact that we were in the midst of the worst economic crisis ever experienced by the United States. The government, he claims, must deal with the economic crisis “as we would treat the emergency of a war”, so we can surmise that the same response would be appropriate for today’s crisis.
In Bill O’Reilly’s best selling book, “The Killing of Kennedy”, O’Reilly and his co-author Martin Dugard, describe in
frightening detail how the world waited for thirteen days in October 1962, teetering on the brink of nuclear war, while President Kennedy met with his advisors on the best way to confront the Soviets about the nuclear missile sites they were building in Cuba.
At 7 p.m. on Monday, October 22nd, 1962, President Kennedy appeared on television to inform the American people of the recently discovered installation of Russian nuclear missiles in Cuba, and in that address to his country he said the following:
:My fellow citizens: The 1930’s taught us a clear lesson: aggressive conduct, if allowed to go unchecked and unchallenged ultimately leads to war…... Let no one doubt that this is a difficult and dangerous effort on which we have set out. No one can see precisely what course it will take or what costs or casualties will be incurred. Many months of sacrifice and self-discipline lie ahead--months in which our patience and our will will be tested--months in which many threats and denunciations will keep us aware of our dangers. But the greatest danger of all would be to do nothing.
The path we have chosen for the present is full of hazards, as all paths are--but it is the one most consistent with our character and courage as a nation and our commitments around the world. The cost of freedom is always high--and Americans have always paid it. But one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender or submission.
Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right- -not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved.”
President Reagan after the crash of the Challenger on January 28, 1986, said “We'll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space.
The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."
*President Bush in his address to the nation after the 911 attack reassured and strengthened us with these words: “These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
Playwright Arthur Miller once said “It is in the times of crisis that we demand of our leaders the reassurance that we are in the hands of one who has mastered events and his own uncertainties. Human beings, as the poet said, cannot bear very much reality, and the art of politics is our best proof.”
"In such times the public has a deep psychological need, a hunger to be reassured and comforted. We need to believe that in an out-of-control world, someone is in control, that everything will be okay."" (Michael A. Genovese Loyola Chair of Leadership Loyola Marymount University)
President Obama’s speech on Sunday night elicited a plethora of responses running the gamut from highly critical to enthusiastic approval.
We are a nation in crisis, and Presidents have historically called forth the best from the citizenry in times like these. A crisis is an event that occurs suddenly, heightens tensions, induces stress, and when occuring in a political environment where stakes are high, there may be little time to decide, with decision-makers under intense pressure to perform in an atmosphere of uncertainty.
According to U.S. History.org, “The Constitutional power as "Commander in Chief" has evolved into the very important modern role of "crisis manager." In the 20th century, as the United States gained world leadership powers, the President has become a key player in international crises. In the case of war or even regional conflicts, the President must go into "emergency mode" and concentrate on the immediate problem. Domestically, crises may occur — such as urban riots, hurricanes, or forest fires — that require the President to schedule time to coordinate government responses to the situation.”
“More than anyone else, the President symbolizes the country — its people and its beliefs. Strong Presidents must exude confidence, not just in themselves, but in the American people as well.”
Leadership studies teach us that in “times of great upheaval, in war or crisis, in the life of a President, the public and Congress look to the president as crisis manager, leader, and problem-solver.
On March 4, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his first inaugural address, spoke the famous words, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
A lesser known line from that address was “We must move as a trained and loyal army willing to sacrifice for the good of a common discipline.”
The crisis our nation faced at that time was not one of a war on terrorism but the fact that we were in the midst of the worst economic crisis ever experienced by the United States. The government, he claims, must deal with the economic crisis “as we would treat the emergency of a war”, so we can surmise that the same response would be appropriate for today’s crisis.
In Bill O’Reilly’s best selling book, “The Killing of Kennedy”, O’Reilly and his co-author Martin Dugard, describe in
frightening detail how the world waited for thirteen days in October 1962, teetering on the brink of nuclear war, while President Kennedy met with his advisors on the best way to confront the Soviets about the nuclear missile sites they were building in Cuba.
At 7 p.m. on Monday, October 22nd, 1962, President Kennedy appeared on television to inform the American people of the recently discovered installation of Russian nuclear missiles in Cuba, and in that address to his country he said the following:
:My fellow citizens: The 1930’s taught us a clear lesson: aggressive conduct, if allowed to go unchecked and unchallenged ultimately leads to war…... Let no one doubt that this is a difficult and dangerous effort on which we have set out. No one can see precisely what course it will take or what costs or casualties will be incurred. Many months of sacrifice and self-discipline lie ahead--months in which our patience and our will will be tested--months in which many threats and denunciations will keep us aware of our dangers. But the greatest danger of all would be to do nothing.
The path we have chosen for the present is full of hazards, as all paths are--but it is the one most consistent with our character and courage as a nation and our commitments around the world. The cost of freedom is always high--and Americans have always paid it. But one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender or submission.
Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right- -not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved.”
President Reagan after the crash of the Challenger on January 28, 1986, said “We'll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space.
The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."
*President Bush in his address to the nation after the 911 attack reassured and strengthened us with these words: “These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
Playwright Arthur Miller once said “It is in the times of crisis that we demand of our leaders the reassurance that we are in the hands of one who has mastered events and his own uncertainties. Human beings, as the poet said, cannot bear very much reality, and the art of politics is our best proof.”
"In such times the public has a deep psychological need, a hunger to be reassured and comforted. We need to believe that in an out-of-control world, someone is in control, that everything will be okay."" (Michael A. Genovese Loyola Chair of Leadership Loyola Marymount University)
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