If we cast aside rhetoric and conventional wisdom, we will discover what are the essential qualities needed for our highest political office.
In view of the troubled state of our economy and widespread political dissatisfaction, it is important that we discover the attributes needed for effective leadership.
Nowadays we are told that experience, mainly political, is paramount. History abounds with examples disproving that.
For example, in the United States Abraham Lincoln, probably the greatest president, had only limited political experience before he was elected as president. He ran a tiny law office, was elected to the Illinois Legislature for two terms, and to the Congress for a single term.
Lincoln had held only minor jobs previously, as a surveyor and postmaster in Salem, Illinois. He failed in other political quests.
His intellectual capacity and moral standards propelled him to the presidency.
Several other presidents had military careers, a background dissimilar to the usual prerequisites for political office. In fact, General Eisenhower, the wartime soldier, was elected to two terms as the United States president.
In Canada our most eminent leaders were Members of Parliament, sometimes coupled with experience as cabinet members, such as Mackenzie King, our longest-serving prime minister.
Louis St. Laurent had a very distinguished career as Justice Minister before two fortunate terms as head of a U.S. subsidiary in Canada. Only history will judge their accomplishments as failures.
John Diefenbaker, for whom this columnist worked, was a long-time Member of Parliament and maintained a small law office; he won three elections – the first Conservative to do so since Sir John A. Macdonald.
Our present prime minister was a lobbyist for a splinter group, the Reform Party before his election to Parliament and later our prime minister.
Yet, currently Justin Trudeau is depicted usually as lacking the necessary experience to head our governments. He has two post-secondary degrees, one from McGill and the other from the University of British Columbia. Then he became a teacher and later a Member of Parliament and head of the Liberal Party.
Therefore, to be a successful prime minister, that person primarily must have political and moral integrity, and a substantial post-secondary education.
Speaking ability and a winning personality are helpful. Common sense and, of course, brains are needed. Arthur Meighen, a failure as prime minister, lacked the former,
A knowledge of history is a must in this era, as we are prone to repeat our previous mistakes. Hence, let us not judge our present leaders by the repeated shibboleth that experience is lacking.
Wisdom, character and overall morality should be key factors needed for our troubled economy, in place of the present bitterly poisoned atmosphere.