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Moral Vision: Leadership from George Washington to Joe Biden
What makes a leader truly great? Is it simply a matter of management style and personality? Or is it character that matters most? Moral Visions takes an insightful look into America’s leaders of the past to answer these questions and demonstrates that values and moral convictions are critical to the strength of a nation.
Supposedly, we learn about the candidates for the highest office through a series of tests called “debates,” which are instead an exchange of soundbites. We can’t know whether an aspirant to the presidency has the ability to ask good questions or only a suave or belligerent ability to answer them. Moral Vision is a human-interest introduction to American history through studies of nineteen presidents, almost presidents, a tycoon, a crusading journalist, and even a leading 19th century abortionist. Its lessons can help voters sort through the candidates in 2024 and beyond by measuring them against previous leaders—none of whom was faultless. It shows how the deepest views often grow out of religious belief and influence political goals, racial prejudices, sexual activities, uses of power, and senses of service.
In his 1789 inaugural address, George Washington pledged that “the foundation for national policy will be laid in the sure and immutable principles of private morality.” Marvin Olasky shows how 19th-century leaders like Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Grover Cleveland partly upheld and partly ignored that promise, and 20th-century leaders like Woodrow Wilson, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton tried to “compartmentalize” the private and the public.
An extensively updated version of The American Leadership Tradition , Moral Vision is for anyone tired of today’s textbook tendencies to submerge the role of individuals as big economic and demographic waves roll in. History is more than statistics, economics, and group identities. Human beings are more than paper boats riding the rainfall into gutters.
Supposedly, we learn about the candidates for the highest office through a series of tests called “debates,” which are instead an exchange of soundbites. We can’t know whether an aspirant to the presidency has the ability to ask good questions or only a suave or belligerent ability to answer them. Moral Vision is a human-interest introduction to American history through studies of nineteen presidents, almost presidents, a tycoon, a crusading journalist, and even a leading 19th century abortionist. Its lessons can help voters sort through the candidates in 2024 and beyond by measuring them against previous leaders—none of whom was faultless. It shows how the deepest views often grow out of religious belief and influence political goals, racial prejudices, sexual activities, uses of power, and senses of service.
In his 1789 inaugural address, George Washington pledged that “the foundation for national policy will be laid in the sure and immutable principles of private morality.” Marvin Olasky shows how 19th-century leaders like Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Grover Cleveland partly upheld and partly ignored that promise, and 20th-century leaders like Woodrow Wilson, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton tried to “compartmentalize” the private and the public.
An extensively updated version of The American Leadership Tradition , Moral Vision is for anyone tired of today’s textbook tendencies to submerge the role of individuals as big economic and demographic waves roll in. History is more than statistics, economics, and group identities. Human beings are more than paper boats riding the rainfall into gutters.
464 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2024
49 people want to read
About the author
Marvin Olasky
58 books47 followersMarvin Olasky is a senior fellow of the Discovery Institute and an affiliate scholar at the Acton Institute. He also chairs the Zenger House Foundation, serves as a Zenger Prize judge, and is the author of 29 books. From 1992 through 2021, he edited World.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 5, 2024
Rating Rationale Reconsidered
How should a book be rated? By its thoroughness and coherence to its topic, by its objectiveness, by its success in convincing the reader? Yes, often so, but there is another dimension that perhaps might be more important: its spur to critical thinking. I found shortcomings with respect to those first dimensions in Marvin Olasky’s “Moral Vision: Leadership from Washington to Biden”, a timely 2024 update to his earlier book on the importance of character. I sometimes thought while reading that I would rate it poorly for those deficiencies. However, seldom have I found a book that is so successful in stimulating thinking of critical and troubling issues. It is very timely in this unusual presidential election year. In my own rating system, I gave it strong marks, but qualified with a question mark, something I’ve not done in hundreds of book reviews.
Olasky has chosen sexual integrity as his primary indicator of moral character, although he clearly expresses the importance of certain other areas, particularly the shameful history of racial (including American Indian) mistreatment in American history. One of the deficiencies in Olasky’s narrow focus in my opinion is omission of other very important factors. In his book “Counterfeit Gods” the late Tim Keller (whom Olasky cites in the epilogue) points to the corrupting influence of sex, but also to power and money. Although Olasky shows that sexual integrity can be a significant bellwether, not considering these other factors leaves out two obvious and important examples of failed moral leadership, Warren G. Harding and Richard Nixon. An analysis of the importance of character in leaders is incomplete without considering these two ignominious holders of the world’s highest office. Conversely, Olasky’s thesis fails to explain the weak leadership of Jimmy Carter (the only mention of Carter is regarding his infamous Playboy interview confession, cited to illustrate how times have changed in just 40 years) whose sexual integrity was undeniable. The clear answer to this reviewer is that lack of sexual integrity is one of a number of vices manifested by greater character flaws, the most basic of which may be simple integrity. In the epilogue the author apologizes that in the 1999 edition of “Moral Vision” too much emphasis was placed on the sexual integrity factor, but he really hasn’t overcome that emphasis. Thus, it may be a reliable indicator of deeper, more consequential flaws, but not the only one.
Olasky also breezes over some critical moral considerations of leaders he admires. Harry Truman is the best example. No discussion at all is given of the great moral decision of Truman’s presidency, and certainly one of a handful of transcendental moral dilemmas in US history, the decision to use the atom bomb. And Truman’s use of the n-word is only revealed in a parenthetical “wink” to an edited quote that uses the more acceptable word for its time,“Negro”. This is not to say that he ignores Truman’s weaknesses, but rather that he is incomplete in evaluating this presidential leadership.
Another weakness is the inclusion of several non-presidential examples. While they are interesting, they dilute the impact of the analysis of moral presidential leadership.
Which brings me to my conclusion. In some ways, “Moral Vision” leads almost to a polemic against Donald Trump’s poor character. Joe Biden certainly is not commended as exemplary, but the emphasis clearly is on Trump’s fitness for the presidency. Biden’s character flaws (including allegations of sexual impropriety) largely are unexamined. In fact, America is faced, as this review is composed, with a choice between poor characters in 2024, exacerbated by questionable competency. Is the “lesser of two evils” really a choice? “Moral Vision” will cause the reader to consider what is at stake in 2024 and how character, in all its dimensions, matters. For this it is recommended reading.
How should a book be rated? By its thoroughness and coherence to its topic, by its objectiveness, by its success in convincing the reader? Yes, often so, but there is another dimension that perhaps might be more important: its spur to critical thinking. I found shortcomings with respect to those first dimensions in Marvin Olasky’s “Moral Vision: Leadership from Washington to Biden”, a timely 2024 update to his earlier book on the importance of character. I sometimes thought while reading that I would rate it poorly for those deficiencies. However, seldom have I found a book that is so successful in stimulating thinking of critical and troubling issues. It is very timely in this unusual presidential election year. In my own rating system, I gave it strong marks, but qualified with a question mark, something I’ve not done in hundreds of book reviews.
Olasky has chosen sexual integrity as his primary indicator of moral character, although he clearly expresses the importance of certain other areas, particularly the shameful history of racial (including American Indian) mistreatment in American history. One of the deficiencies in Olasky’s narrow focus in my opinion is omission of other very important factors. In his book “Counterfeit Gods” the late Tim Keller (whom Olasky cites in the epilogue) points to the corrupting influence of sex, but also to power and money. Although Olasky shows that sexual integrity can be a significant bellwether, not considering these other factors leaves out two obvious and important examples of failed moral leadership, Warren G. Harding and Richard Nixon. An analysis of the importance of character in leaders is incomplete without considering these two ignominious holders of the world’s highest office. Conversely, Olasky’s thesis fails to explain the weak leadership of Jimmy Carter (the only mention of Carter is regarding his infamous Playboy interview confession, cited to illustrate how times have changed in just 40 years) whose sexual integrity was undeniable. The clear answer to this reviewer is that lack of sexual integrity is one of a number of vices manifested by greater character flaws, the most basic of which may be simple integrity. In the epilogue the author apologizes that in the 1999 edition of “Moral Vision” too much emphasis was placed on the sexual integrity factor, but he really hasn’t overcome that emphasis. Thus, it may be a reliable indicator of deeper, more consequential flaws, but not the only one.
Olasky also breezes over some critical moral considerations of leaders he admires. Harry Truman is the best example. No discussion at all is given of the great moral decision of Truman’s presidency, and certainly one of a handful of transcendental moral dilemmas in US history, the decision to use the atom bomb. And Truman’s use of the n-word is only revealed in a parenthetical “wink” to an edited quote that uses the more acceptable word for its time,“Negro”. This is not to say that he ignores Truman’s weaknesses, but rather that he is incomplete in evaluating this presidential leadership.
Another weakness is the inclusion of several non-presidential examples. While they are interesting, they dilute the impact of the analysis of moral presidential leadership.
Which brings me to my conclusion. In some ways, “Moral Vision” leads almost to a polemic against Donald Trump’s poor character. Joe Biden certainly is not commended as exemplary, but the emphasis clearly is on Trump’s fitness for the presidency. Biden’s character flaws (including allegations of sexual impropriety) largely are unexamined. In fact, America is faced, as this review is composed, with a choice between poor characters in 2024, exacerbated by questionable competency. Is the “lesser of two evils” really a choice? “Moral Vision” will cause the reader to consider what is at stake in 2024 and how character, in all its dimensions, matters. For this it is recommended reading.
March 2, 2024
Even before I finished the last page of this book I knew it would be a favorite, of this year, and of all the hundreds of books I’ve ever read.
It is fascinating to learn where aspects of American policy and culture originated from—that is one part of it. (Fun fact—Haiti’s independence secured the US’s acquisition of the Louisiana purchase.)
It helped me think about my long-standing puzzlement over America’s “Christian” heritage. These questions have only increased in recent years with the disconnect between Christian values and idolization of Donald Trump whose life stands in opposition to them. It was heartening, in a sense, to realize that the current struggles in America are *not new.* She has never been a perfect nation, never perfectly embodied the values she esteems. It is hopeful to realize that we do not live in a completely uncharted time, rather we face the questions Believers have faced for all of history.
The book concludes with some counsel on how we as Believers should approach the presidential election this fall. I appreciated the guidelines about how to think about what makes a good president.
Now on Remaking the World!
It is fascinating to learn where aspects of American policy and culture originated from—that is one part of it. (Fun fact—Haiti’s independence secured the US’s acquisition of the Louisiana purchase.)
It helped me think about my long-standing puzzlement over America’s “Christian” heritage. These questions have only increased in recent years with the disconnect between Christian values and idolization of Donald Trump whose life stands in opposition to them. It was heartening, in a sense, to realize that the current struggles in America are *not new.* She has never been a perfect nation, never perfectly embodied the values she esteems. It is hopeful to realize that we do not live in a completely uncharted time, rather we face the questions Believers have faced for all of history.
The book concludes with some counsel on how we as Believers should approach the presidential election this fall. I appreciated the guidelines about how to think about what makes a good president.
Now on Remaking the World!
June 7, 2024
Olasky is the former editor of World magazine. This is his look at the moral character of various leaders in American history. The title leads one to believe that it includes every president, but instead, it's a combination of selected presidents and other famous Americans (Henry Clay, Ida B. Wells, Booker T. Washington, John Rockefeller). For anyone interested in American history or politics, this will be highly enjoyable. Olasky certainly admires some of these figures more than others (fans of Thomas Jefferson and JFK, beware), but he is honest in his evaluation about each one. My only complaint: I wish it was longer! I'd love to read the same treatment of all the presidents and at least as many other leaders. Highly recommended.
August 20, 2024
In this book, Marvin Olasky explores the idea that good personal character strongly correlates to good public leadership. His three primary criteria for good moral character seem to be: marital fidelity, personal religious observance, and treatment of minorities. Of these three, he seems to regard marital fidelity as by far the most important and tends to minimize horrible mistreatment of minorities as long as he otherwise admires the person being discussed. The whole book is marred by minimizing the faults of those he admires and downplaying the accomplishments of those he dislikes (due to character or politics).
While I generally agree with his thesis that personal character affects public leadership, I think that his approach is far too biased. There is some great historical information in the book, and I think he does demonstrate that personal character has ceased to matter to many (most?) voters. However, I would take his evaluations of past leaders with a grain (or more) of salt.
While I generally agree with his thesis that personal character affects public leadership, I think that his approach is far too biased. There is some great historical information in the book, and I think he does demonstrate that personal character has ceased to matter to many (most?) voters. However, I would take his evaluations of past leaders with a grain (or more) of salt.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews