In today’s world, selecting a president and sending that individual to the White House is more consequential than ever. The qualifications of those who run – and ultimately win – must be taken seriously. The last five years have shown that we cannot ever afford another Joe Biden-type presidency. The consequences have already been disastrous.
Looking back is sometimes a viable way to understand what is required going forward. By examining the qualifications of past presidents, in theory, we can better judge who is prepared to lead the country in this day and age.
Nothing to Fear
Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Navy and later as Governor of New York. After contracting polio, he fought his way back physically and politically to reach the White House. FDR possessed the experience and resilience necessary to be president.
When Roosevelt died in office, Vice President Harry Truman assumed the presidency. Truman was not a career politician. He began in the men’s clothing business and entered largely through local party connections and the political machinery in Missouri. At the time, the VP had virtually no responsibilities. Many Americans could not even name who held the office. Despite this, Truman rose to the occasion and led the nation through one of its most consequential periods.
Dwight D. Eisenhower was a war hero known throughout the Western world. As Supreme Allied Commander during World War II, he possessed immense leadership experience and credibility. While not a traditional politician, his stature and command experience made him more than qualified to serve as president. Although initially viewed as mediocre by some historians, his reputation has steadily risen over time, especially in comparison to those presidents who succeeded him.
Passing the Torch
John F. Kennedy was well-educated and came from a background of wealth and privilege. When he assumed the presidency in 1960, few questioned his intellectual or political capabilities. Regardless of serious questions about the legitimacy of the election itself, Kennedy had been a U.S. senator with deep knowledge of American and world history and a strong grasp of political science. Even at a young age, he had the credentials to serve as chief executive.
After Kennedy’s assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson took office. Whatever one thinks of his personality or policies, LBJ had served as a long-time congressman and Senate Majority Leader, before becoming and vice president. He understood power and how to wield it.
Richard Nixon’s victory in 1968 surprised many, perhaps even Nixon himself. Still, from a qualifications standpoint, he was prepared. He had served in Congress, as vice president under Eisenhower, and had previously run for president. Few could argue that he lacked experience. Gerald Ford, who took office after Nixon resigned in disgrace, also had the necessary credentials. He was a long-time congressman from Michigan and a respected leader in the House before serving as vice president.
Jimmy Carter appeared to come out of nowhere, but he, too, met the basic qualifications for the times. He was a U.S. Naval officer and had served as governor of Georgia. Voters hoped his outsider status would bring reform and integrity to Washington.
Resounding Election Results
Carter was swept away by Ronald Reagan. While Reagan spent decades as an actor, he was also deeply political, delivering hundreds of speeches nationwide and serving two successful terms as governor of California. By the time he became president, his credentials were undeniable.
George H. W. Bush followed Reagan and demonstrably had the strongest résumé of any president to date. He was a World War II hero, congressman, ambassador, CIA director, and then vice president for eight years. Few have entered the presidency more qualified.
Bill Clinton succeeded Bush, aided significantly by Ross Perot siphoning votes from the Republican ticket. Clinton had served multiple terms as governor of Arkansas and gained national recognition with a memorable speech at the 1988 Democratic Convention. By 1992, he was the Democrats’ clear choice.
Let the Squabbles Begin
After Clinton’s two terms, both George W. Bush and Al Gore were qualified to serve. Gore had been a long-time senator and vice president for eight years and came from a political family. Bush, the son of a president, owned and managed the Texas Rangers baseball team and served two successful terms as governor of Texas.
Following Bush, Barack Obama did not possess the credentials of most of his predecessors. He served only two years as a U.S. senator before the Democratic leadership elevated him as their chosen candidate. Following Obama’s presidency, the 2016 election was wide open.
Democrats rallied around Hillary Clinton, while Republicans fielded an impressive group that included Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and others. Then, businessman and reality television host Donald Trump descended the golden escalator.
This is New
From a purely political résumé standpoint, Trump was arguably the least qualified President in 80 years. Despite that, his first administration achieved notable successes. It is reasonable to believe that even with questionable election returns, he would have won reelection easily had the global pandemic not struck in 2020.
Joe Biden entered office after 47 years in Washington. On paper, he appeared qualified, though his record was undistinguished and his penchant for extraordinary lies was evident. In 2021, he was already in mental decline and increasingly physically frail. His term was an unmitigated disaster, possibly the worst in American history.
So what qualifications did we need for today’s turbulent world?
That Was Then, This is Now
We needed a leader who would stand up to Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. We needed a leader who would stop the infiltration of our institutions and our homeland by hostile foreign actors, terrorist organizations, and criminal cartels, which have all exploited a wide-open border. We needed a leader who understood the Middle East and recognized the importance of securing Israel’s future, our strongest and most reliable ally in the region.
We needed a leader who could restore the economy that Biden badly damaged by taming inflation, bringing manufacturing back to America, increasing wages and benefits, rooting out fraud, and restoring consumer confidence.
We needed a leader who respects the Constitution, restores integrity to federal agencies, removes those who allowed government agencies to be weaponized for political purposes, and terminates spendthrifts of our precious tax dollars.
We needed a leader who inspires educators to teach critical thinking and history with perspective. Teacher committed to focusing on real skills, rather than indoctrinating students to hate America, their heritage, or themselves.
Totally Evident
Considering everything, the picture is abundantly clear. Donald Trump has his faults and foibles, and yet is the only individual keenly qualified for the moment in which we live. As VP J.D. Vance gains more on-the-job-experience, he will be uniquely positioned to inherit the mantle. Together, we have the one-two punch that America needs at this time and will need going forward.