Five Lessons from U.S. Presidents
When President’s Day was memorialized as an official federal holiday in 1868, it was meant to be a celebration of George Washington’s birthday. One hundred years later, Congress wrote it into law as a public holiday on the third Monday in February. As we look forward to the upcoming long-weekend, it is fitting to briefly examine some of America’s greatest leaders and reap some leadership lessons. In today’s article, I share vignettes highlighting the leadership qualities of five U.S. Presidents worth reflecting upon this President’s Day weekend.
- George Washington. George Washington’s daring and innovative leadership throughout the Revolutionary War demonstrated his patriotism, ability to lead Soldiers in combat, flexibility, and strategic thinking. This is most exemplified in his decision to cross the icy Delaware River in December 1776 and execute a surprise attack on the Hessian Army quartered in Trenton, New Jersey. The operation was fraught with difficulties and was delayed three hours due to the poor weather conditions. Washington knew the operation must succeed to reinvigorate the Continental Army. (1)
Patriotism is usually an organic trait to military officers. The desire to serve in the military and perform well is usually exemplified by how well you treat and lead your Soldiers. This ability translates to combat where your Soldiers have now gained your trust and you can leverage additional attributes like strategic thinking and flexibility, as in Washington’s case.
Lastly, throughout the Revolutionary War, Washington was able to sift through the little information and intelligence reports available to him to make consequential decisions that won crucial battles and preserved his forces: the Siege of Boston, Battle of Monmouth, and the withdrawal at the Battle of Long Island. These are all examples of ways in which leaders can make acute decisions, keeping the foresight of strategy in mind to affect the outcome of not only the micro battle but the macro war.
- Ulysses S. Grant. Brigid Hickman penned in July ‘23 a Lessons from Grant’s overland campaign of 1864 how the Army and Department of Defense should use lessons from this campaign to apply a framework for protracted conflict. We should also look at Grant’s humility and resiliency as a young officer. After his tactical leadership successes in the Mexican American War, as a junior officer, Grant struggled with discipline issues, to include accusations of heavy drinking from which he chose to resign his commission at Fort Humboldt, California in 1854. During the interwar period, he had two more humbling experiences, one as a farmer in St. Louis, Missouri where had little success, then as a clerk at his father’s store in Galena, Illinois. The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 provided Grant with another opportunity to serve his country where he quickly organized Illinois volunteer units and ascended the ranks. (2)
Grant’s personal struggles illuminate the likelihood that many leaders struggle with their own challenges, some visible and some not. Grant had an innate ability to establish personal relationships and trust. That he built and maintained strong relationships with President Lincoln and General Sherman, when other previous Union Generals could not, demonstrates his humility and ability to take orders and violently execute them in accordance with the Presidential intent. Relationships matter, and Grant’s personal struggles early in his career likely contributed to his humble leadership and ultimate successes in the Civil War.
- Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s leadership in the Spanish-American War generated discussion on the importance of hands-on leadership skills. He led the “Rough Riders”, the first U.S. volunteer cavalry unit. Roosevelt’s combat leadership is most exemplified during the “Rough Riders” charge up San Juan Hill on July 1st, 1898. Roosevelt put himself in harm’s way and demonstrated personal courage to motivate and influence his Soldier’s performance. This leadership led to a critical victory. Additionally, during training and combat preparation, he made sure his Soldiers were well equipped using his acquisition ability and resourcefulness to procure supplies and equipment. (3)
Roosevelt was an achiever, evidenced by his exemplary leadership record: President of the New York City Board of Police Commissioners, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, Vice President of the U.S., and finally as President of the U.S. He always achieved tangible accomplishments and never let the fire inside him die. Roosevelt’s example comes at a premium for young leaders. Keep doing your best, especially in the military where consistent schooling and career benchmarks are always evident. Being disciplined and proficient in whatever tasks your organization’\s field is extremely important, especially for leaders to keep the burning fire inside. Overall competence is valuable in conveying a leader’s ability to lead their organizations and units in difficult situations. Roosevelt’s discipline and proficiency in military tasks and tactics buttressed his hands-on leadership skills and ability to will his unit in combat.
- Harry Truman. “The Buck stops here”, a famous sign on President Truman’s desk in the oval office which encapsulates Truman’s presidency. Truman’s decisiveness is most exemplified in his decision to employ atomic bombs against Japan on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Truman’s characteristics of personal responsibility and decisiveness foster a culture of integrity and dependability within a team. The decision to employ the atomic bomb, the first of its kind, was fraught with ethical considerations and continues to be debated. Military leaders learn from Truman’s decision that one cannot pass blame or avoid accountability and that understanding the broad implications of their objectives and decisions is critical. “The Buck stops here” further indicates Truman’s oura of being dependable. (4)
Truman had an important trait, especially as a President, to understand the geopolitical consequences of decision-making. Truman knew, as his staff and subordinate commanders informed him, that employing the atomic bomb would change the future of warfare.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower’s leadership during World War II, especially in Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day, June 6th, 1944, uncovers dozens of timeless practical leadership lessons. Eisenhower’s legendary leadership lives in in a “in the event of failure” letter he penned prior to the D-Day invasion at Normandy which describes how his decision to attack the Germans was based on the best information he had available at the time. (5)
“The troops, the air, and the navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone”.
The role of leadership responsibility cannot be overstated, as leaders, especially military ones where decisions are made that place our national treasure in harm’s way, U.S. Soldiers, it is of the utmost importance to remember that leaders are responsible for the positive and negative consequences of decisions.
Taking responsibility for the good and bad is one of the harder initial parts of being a leader but, once understood, is an easy way to maintain your leadership compass. As Eisenhower demonstrated during his decades of service, he intuitively understood that as being designated as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, he would be responsible for the successes and failures of combat with the Nazi forces.
Reflecting on the leadership qualities of these five U.S. Presidents, we can be reminded of the timeless principles that undergird effective leadership across generations. Abraham Lincoln, another U.S. President, and leader encapsulates these principles, having led America through one of its most tumultuous periods. There are endless examples where leaders have exhibited traits and attributes that we all can learn from. It is in all our best interests, and that of our Soldiers, to continue to find leaders to model, seek to be better, and implement practical methods to be a better leader. As you reflect over President’s Day weekend, uncover the many examples that could help us in our future leadership challenges.
1. Chernow, Ron. Washington: A Life. New York: Penguin Press, 2010.
2. Chernow, Ron. Grant. New York: Penguin Press, 2017.
3. Morris, Edmund. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1979.
4. McCullough, David. Truman. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992.
5. Smith, Jean Edward. Eisenhower in War and Peace. New York: Random House, 2012.
Evan Bruccoleri is an active-duty Army Infantry officer and is currently service at the Headquarters Department of the Army.
Opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not represent those of the United States Army, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government.