Denton examines moral leadership and the American presidency
Robert E. Denton, Jr., the W. Thomas Rice Chair of Leadership Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has written a new book “Moral Leadership and the American Presidency.” This book asserts the importance of moral presidential leadership, ultimately calling for a return to a "heroic presidency."
Briefly surveying presidential character throughout our history, Denton, gives an overview of the decline in trust of the government and offers possible reasons for this trend. Denton argues that personal character and integrity are essential and critical presidential traits. Focusing on Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, he compares the scandal-filled terms of Clinton and Richard Nixon and looks at Bush vis-à-vis the elections, September 11, and the Iraq War. He addresses the myth of separating private from public behavior and shows how virtually everything presidents do or say influences their decisions and impacts citizens.
A resident of Blacksburg, Denton serves as the director of the Rice Center for Leader Development. He is the author, co-author, and editor of 17 books on political communication and campaigns. Denton received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wake Forest and his Ph.D. from Purdue University.
Published by Rowman & Littlefield, “Moral Leadership and the American Presidency,” is now available in bookstores, hardcover with dust jacket, and retails for $27.95.
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