5. Psychoanalytic Assessments
of Character and Performance in
Presidents and Candidates: Some
Observations on Theory and Method
Stanley A. RenshonModern democracies place individuals at their helm with access to
immense power and, of necessity, grant them enormous discretion in
its use. Therefore, the competence and integrity in exercising the
authority with which the leaders of democracies are entrusted is no
minor matter. Leaders who corruptly or ineptly use the awesome
means at their disposal endanger not only the success of the policies
they propose but the fabric of trust and hopeful expectation that
binds citizens to each other and their institutions. In short, the psy-
chology of presidents matters enormously. Their ambition, values,
integrity, and ways of dealing with the issues they face make a pro-
found difference in the success or failure of their time in office.
Understandably, Americans have become increasingly interested
over the last four decades in trying to learn something about the per-
sonal characteristics of their leaders. This interest has, however, been
repeatedly frustrated and in some cases thwarted. What are the per-
sonal and professional standards by which one can reasonably evalu-
ate presidential candidates? Is every personal characteristic of a can-
didate a matter of political concern, and, if not, which ones are and
why? Finally, even if we agree that certain personal qualities do have
important implications for how presidents approach and carry out
their responsibilities, the question remains, How are we to discern
these qualities without relying on candidates' views of themselves?
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