George Washington Position Essay

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The job of the President of the United States of America is one the most stressful in the world. This is evidenced by the rapid aging of the men who enter the office. Along with living up to the reputation of the president and having to follow up some of the greatest leaders of all time, the president is faced with media that hounds his every move and a nation with the right to express their displeasure anytime they so choose. Our first president, George Washington faced the same issues way back in 1789. Washington serves as a model for future presidents as he was the mold off of which the position was formed. Washington was humble, honest, and brave; all of which, voters look for in today’s presidents. In his article, James David Barber reflects on presidential …show more content…

However, not all of the expectations come from outside the White House. Not only does the public hold expectations of the job that the president must do, but also the president has expectations for himself developed over the campaign or even their entire political career. The president must meet the needs of the masses while meeting the needs of himself. The public wants a president who is actively working on problems and producing solutions that are visible. Lastly, the public expects the president to be genuine. A president who cannot fulfill promises is a president with low approval. According to Barber, there are four personality types that define presidential character. They are: active-positive, passive-positive, active-negative, and passive-negative. Active-positive presidents are defined by high self-esteem and productivity. Active-negative presidents are characterized by a lot of effort, but relatively low sense of self. Passive-positive presidents are defined by a high self-esteem, but rely on others to get work done. Finally, passive-negative presidents are defined by a low approval and low work

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