Judging Presidential Character

Abstract

This article takes the character issue seriously by addressing how presidents ought to be judged with respect to truthfulness, sexual probity, and promise-keeping. It argues that it is beneficial rather than destructive to examine the faults of political leaders along with their virtues. The analysis concludes that democratic politics makes it unlikely that our leaders will often be moral paragons, and that while we ought not to condone wrongdoing, neither should we expect perfection.