The Heart of Leadership
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Leadership isn't really easily defined. For me, examples work better.
GEORGE BUSH
George Bush has had a tough presidency. We all know about his approval ratings and the problems in Iraq. The press, and, indeed, the American populace, has decided that he isn't the leader they thought.
My impression has been that Bush doesn't get closely involved in the decision-making process in the various departments. One instance shows I'm wrong.
In 2006, Bush formed the Iraq Study Group. Its goal was to propose ways to proceed in Iraq. Their report was definitive in saying no new troops in Iraq (Bzdek, 402). Bush found a loop-hole, with the help of James Baker. Of the seventy-nine suggestions none said to increase troops, except on comment in a footnote on page 73 of the report: "We could, however, support a short-term redeployment or surge of American combat forces to stabilize Baghdad, or to speed up the training and equipping mission, if the U.S. commander in Iraq determines that such steps would be effective (Bzdek, 403)."
Here's the part I like: Bush didn't call the Generals to White House. He went to the Pentagon and sat with the Generals. Rumsfeld was at the meeting, along with his successor, Gates. Bush, deviating from his usual course, did the talking. He wanted an assurance that a surge would be useful if he supported it.
Basically, Bush ignored many of the suggestions of his commission's report. He asked the Generals if a surge would work. They said yes (qualifiedly). He supported their statements.
Now, the rest is history. Did he make the right decision. We'll see. Did Bush lead? Yes.
NANCY PELOSI
Nancy Pelosi grew up in a political family in Baltimore, went to school in Washington, married and moved to California, and raised a family. Only after all that did she re-enter the political fray in California. Nominated to fill an empty seat, she was re-elected and worked her way up in the House of Representatives. With the election of the Democratic congress in 2006, she ascended to the position of Speaker.
The thing I find special, as if all her accomplishments aren't special enough, is the way she stage-managed her inauguration as Speaker. Everything was normal except one thing: she wanted to emphasize the enormity of her election (being a woman and all) so she brought her grandchildren along with other House member's grandchildren with her to the rostrum to share in her celebration (Bzdek, 168).
The message was that, yes, there is a glass ceiling for women in America, and, yes, it is possible to pierce that ceiling. She did it. So can every other kid - girls especially - in America.
Bravo.
References
Bzdek, Vincent. Woman of the House. The Rise of Nancy Pelosi. Palgrave Macmillan. 2008.
Draper, Robert. Dead Certain. The Presidency of George W. Bush. Free Press. 2007.