The third Monday in that month we all hate to pronounce (is it Feb-roo-air-ee or Feb-yoo-air-ee?) is more than just another Federal Holiday when your mail won’t be delivered and the DMV won’t be open. Presidents‘ Day isn’t just a long weekend of consumerism. For over 200 years, leaders have filled the Office of the Presidency and, with it, wielded immense power and responsibility. History will judge what they did with their time in the Oval Office, but as President Washington said “Example, whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence”. This Presidents‘ Day, let’s take a look at what past American Presidents had to say about Leadership.
Presidents’ Day became a Federal Holiday in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington’s Birthday. It was celebrated on his actual day of birth (February 22nd) until 1971, when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Some celebrate Presidents‘ Day as recognizing Washington and Abraham Lincoln (born on February 12th). Other states lump Thomas Jefferson into the day (even though his birthday is in April). Many now recognize it as a celebration of all Presidents, past and present.
No matter for whom or why you celebrate Presidents’ Day, it is more than a weekend of sales. Our Forefathers, although immensely fallible, have helped steer our Nation toward freedom and prosperity for centuries. Their leadership, both good and bad, at the highest level of government is worth notice. Here are some thoughts on leadership from our Presidents.
Presidents on Leadership
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” -John Quincy Adams
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” -Thomas Jefferson
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” -Harry S. Truman
“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.” -John F. Kennedy
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” -John F. Kennedy
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” -Ronald Reagan
“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” -Andrew Jackson
“You don’t lead by hitting people over the head. That’s assault, not leadership.” -Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower
“We all do better when we work together. Our differences do matter, but our common humanity matters more.” -Bill Clinton
“Example, whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence.” -George Washington
“If you treat people right, they will treat you right – ninety percent of the time.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
“The single most important thing I can do is prepare the next generation of leadership to take up the baton.” -Barack Obama
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” -Abraham Lincoln
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” -Abraham Lincoln
“Leadership to me means duty, honor, country. It means character, and it means listening from time to time.” -George W. Bush
One of my personal favorites…
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” -Theodore Roosevelt
And a few from our favorite fictional Presidents…
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and 
committed citizens can change the world; [it’s the only thing that ever has.]” -Josiah E. Bartlet
On decision-making: “You have a lot of help, you listen to everyone, and then you call the play.” -Josiah E. Bartlet
“I can tell you without hesitation: Being President of this country is entirely about character.” -Andrew Shepherd
“We can’t be consumed by our petty differences any more. We will be united in our common interest.” -Thomas Whitmore
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Our Presidents are human – they are not without failing. If you limit your sources of wisdom to wise people, you will miss out on many great things. We, too often, restrict our acceptance of truisms to the perfection of the person delivering the message. We can learn a lot from those who have held the highest office in America. I have an entire Amazon wishlist just for Presidential biographies and autobiographies. Sadly, I am not working through them as fast as I would like. Two of my favorites, of recent reading, are His Excellency: George Washington and The Presidents Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity. What are your favorite quotes on leadership from our American Presidents?
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