Character Factor

WATERGATE. MONICA LEWINSKY. PAINKILLERS IN THE OVAL OFFICE. IRAN-CONTRA. READ MY LIPS. THE CHARACTER FACTOR.The American presidents character matters. To most Americans, it matters deeply. But how do we define what character means, and why cant we agree?In this sober, probing consideration of the character factor and the presidency, veteran political analyst James P. Pfiffner leads us through a survey of three aspects of presidential character that have proved problematic for recent chief executives: lies, promise-keeping, and sexual probity. His goal is not to tell us which presidents have been good and which bad. Rather, he helps us think critically and impartially about complex character issues and invites us to reach our own conclusions.The Character Factor avoids both the abyss of moral relativism and the desert of political cynicism. It helps us look at our presidents (and our presidential candidates) without illusions, knowing that flawed men can still be great leaders but that some flaws deserve defeat at the pollsor even the ultimate presidential sanction, impeachment.