Each year about this time, I look up some data on who were the greatest of the US Presidents; and each year, I read the same thing. Almost every time, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are the top two presidents, followed often by FDR, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt etc. Such polling of experts is highly subjective, but sometimes interesting.
In a recent Newsweek report, several categories were listed with the ranking for each of the 47 presidents. Washington and Lincoln ranked #1 and #2 in each of the following: crisis leadership, moral leadership, vision, administrative skills, and economic management. Not bad criteria for leadership.
I was intrigued with the “moral leadership” category but can only speculate what is included in that. Perhaps a little insight can be gained from a speech honoring Jimmy Carter in late 2025. At the Washington DC funeral, the son of Carter’s VP, Walter Mondale, quoted Mondale on his and Carter’s administration. He said succinctly:
- We told the truth
- We obeyed the law
- We kept the peace
Today, we celebrate the joint contributions of Washington and Lincoln to the republic. They were not perfect of course, but they do remind us of the importance of morals in leadership. As leaders in business, and especially BAM leaders, we must keep our moral principles high and lifted up in obedience to God and as examples to the world around us.
Larry W. Sharp, BAM Support Specialist, IBEC Ventures
Larry.Sharp@ibecventures.com