In honor of President’s Day, this blog honors three transcendent leaders, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.
John F. Kennedy
Transcendent leaders have inspired American underdogs to achieve triumphs of the human spirit. Would the United States have been able to put the first man on the moon, if not for the challenge set by John F. Kennedy? He not only set the mandate, he gave a deadline too. In his 1961 “Travel to the Moon” speech before Congress, Kennedy said,
“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project…will be more exciting, or more impressive to mankind, or more important…and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish….”
Until that speech, landing on the moon was nothing more than an impossible dream. Kennedy’s words propelled Congress to fund it, and NASA to fulfill it. In a time of uncertainty, Neal Armstrong’s moonwalk was a unifying moment for America.
John F. Kennedy threw the gauntlet that inspired America when he stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Americans accepted the challenge and volunteerism began to grow; one of the results was the birth of the Peace Corps Presently, the reverse of Kennedy’s words is true, as many special interest groups have a “what can the country do for me” mindset. Government has always been relatively generous with other people’s money. Recent events indicate that they will be taxing more of other people’s money to sponsor the unread legislations passed by Congress. Politicians speak rhetorically that they feel the nation’s pain, but their prescription is to squeeze taxpayers repeatedly to fund programs that are doomed for failure.
John F. Kennedy’s Moon Speech to Congress – May 25, 1961
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Ronald Reagan
What would the world be like if Ronald Reagan had not publicly confronted communism by declaring, “Tear down that wall, Mr. Gorbachev.” Former West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl believed, “Reagan was a stroke of luck for the world, especially for Europe.” Reagan’s transcendent leadership was honest, forthright, and morally sound. When German citizens tore down the Berlin Wall, Soviet communists everywhere ran quietly and shamefully out of the mainstream to hide. Recently, communism and socialism have resurfaced in the Executive Branch of the US government. These are White House, handpicked appointments in the form of czars and advisors. Their unknown job descriptions and lack of vetting oversight are interfering with America’s system of checks and balances. These appointments are neither “the right thing to do,” nor “doing things right.” They are just wrong.
Reagan’s transcendent leadership “shoes” have yet to be filled. In addition to shrinking communism, Reagan’s economic policies stimulated the American economy with 17 million new jobs, and, as such, the inflation rate decreased to 4.4 percent, and family incomes rose 12 percent. When he entered office, 7 million Americans were unemployed and the inflation rate was 13 percent. Ronald Reagan did not waste time spending money that America did not have on unwanted programs. He focused on the strengths of the free market not the weaknesses of handouts. Reagan’s accomplishments were with a firm resolve and a classic dry wit.
Currently, America’s call to action for transcendent leadership in Washington has remained unanswered. The elitist hierarchy of the beltway has become an enigma, making decisions that are not in the best interest for the country. Instead of focusing on important issues such as tax reform, term limits, line item vetoes, tort reform and securing US borders, policymakers have chosen to lose touch with the American people.