Barack Obama's Uncommon Calmness

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November 29, 2008



The economy jolts and stumbles, wars slog on in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the horrors of a new terrorist attack blanket the news and draw frayed attention yet again to our precarious alliances in the world. The watchword for the holidays is subdued; certainly not much inspires celebration.

Perhaps it is no coincidence, then, that to lead us in crisis, Americans elected a man repeatedly recognized for his uncommon calmness. More than ever, we crave stability, a steady hand, the reassuring face on television.


David Winter, a psychologist at the University of Michigan who has analyzed the leadership personalities of presidents and other world leaders, said, “I’m not sure I know of evidence that higher degrees of stability are conducive to better leadership.” Winston Churchill, he noted, was highly reactive and emotional. Calvin Coolidge was calm to the point of phlegmatic. And F.D.R., like Mr. Obama, could be cool to the point of remote.

For leaders, it is a balancing act — to lead, but also to be human.

“If there isn’t a tear after a grandmother who raised you just died, if there isn’t a flash of anger against perpetrators or the anxiety that people feel as they lose their jobs, there’s not the sense of connection, that this is a real person,” said Professor Gross.

“What we want from a leader is a paradoxical mix, having the emotions we feel, but almost being our better self.”


read: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/weekinreview/30zernike.html?ref=us&pagewanted=print

[madokie]

1. President Obama is like a breath of fresh air

[Captain Hilts]

3. he doesn't do anything rashly. What a relief after what we've been through. nt

[Captain Hilts]

2. Churchill cried all the time. He cried every time he watched "That Hamilton Woman" with Viv Leigh..

even on the battleship that took him to the Atlantic Conference with Roosevelt, and he'd already seen the movie several times. Lord Moran's diary describes the tears running down Churchill's cheeks.

Eleanor Roosevelt noted that while Churchill was emotional and charming, FDR was much steadier and the kind of guy you'd rather have in charge in a crisis. Churchill was erratic, but not because he was emotional.

And, yes, FDR was very remote in even his closest relationships. His secretary that a lot of people assumed was his lover, even though she got engaged to William Bullitt said that FDR "was incapble of true friendship." Ouch! Like Eleanor, she eventually got emotionally worn out and looked to others for emotional intimacy.

Years after FDR was dead someone said to Eleanor that FDR was the most selfish, self-centered man he'd ever met. She said, "yeah, well, you have to be if you're going to be president." She understood that those traits that made him a lousy husband and father served him well as president. Here's hoping the presidency and our country have progressed since that time.

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4. good stuff, MW

here's hoping right along with you