An American Apprenticeship<\/p>\n
I am a licensed teacher in the State of Ohio. To get my license, I had to have a Bachelors Degree, specialized \u201cteacher\u201d training, a six month \u201capprenticeship\u201d (student teaching) and continuing education. To progress in teaching I earned a Masters Degree. To stay in education, I am required to pass ongoing criminal background checks. There\u2019s even more training required for younger teachers now. All this is required to teach in a public school. \u00a0To be a physician, a Bachelors Degree, four years of medical school, two-years \u201capprenticeship\u201d as an intern, then even more training depending on the specialty.<\/p>\n
To be the President of the United States, you must be a \u201cnatural born\u201d United States citizen (citizenship since birth), thirty-five years old, and a ten year resident of the United States. That is all. There is no other requirement, other than to win election.<\/p>\n
For certain the President is a \u201cgeneralist\u201d, not a specialist. A President must deal with subjects as diverse as nuclear science, the economics of employment, military strategy, and the oratory necessary to explain whatever is going on in the country. \u00a0As broad as the subjects range for the Presidency, shouldn\u2019t there be some basic requirements of knowledge? There isn\u2019t time for much \u201con the job\u201d training, the President needs to know what\u2019s going on from the beginning.<\/p>\n
So what should the preparation be for the President of the United States? First, the President should have knowledge of how the government works beyond a high school civics course level. An in depth understanding of the Constitution is essential, with a comprehension of the tension and balances of the three branches. A familiarity with history and the legislative process would certainly be a must. Historically, twenty-six Presidents have been lawyers, and many have served their \u201capprenticeship\u201d in the legislature, with thirteen Senators, and another seven Congressmen.<\/p>\n
Second, the President must have experience in \u201crunning things,\u201d the essence of executive authority. While running a business certainly would count, running complex government organizations (Governor of a state for example) would be more specific to the task. Nineteen Presidents were previously Vice President or members of the cabinet, and fourteen were Governors of their state. Four Presidents had as their main experience being a commanding General: \u00a0Washington, Taylor, Grant, and Eisenhower.<\/p>\n
Third, the modern President must be able to communicate ideas to the American people. This is strength of Presidents Trump and was for Obama, as well as Clinton, the Roosevelts, Kennedy, Lincoln and Reagan. As part of this communication, the President must be able to relate to the American people, and show an understanding of their concerns.<\/p>\n
Fourth, the modern President must be willing to have their lives scrutinized for every action (and allow it). As our current executive crisis demonstrates, whatever failures or successes the President may have, the world is going to know about them. The days when JFK could have affairs in the White House, or Harding have a paramour back home in Marion, are long over. For a President to be able to focus on what\u2019s in front, they have to be able to put their past behind.<\/p>\n
As Democrats make choices for 2020 they need to keep these criteria in mind. A candidate that has the qualifications of \u201cfame and fortune\u201d without the underlying experience, will leave the country in the same disruption of the current regime.<\/p>\n
The American political pendulum swings from one extreme to another. This is seen historically as the older and more experienced Eisenhower was followed by the youthful Kennedy, and more recently, Barack Obama was followed by Donald Trump. The next pendulum swing may well be not so much one of politics, but of experience. Regardless of the political agenda of the candidate, it may be a more significant qualification for the candidate to be a known \u201csteady-hand.\u201d It is important for both parties to recognize this reality, and choose accordingly.<\/p>\n
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