Lessons of Statesmanship
A very intriguing piece on what are the hallmarks of "statesmanship." Not surprisingly, the author (who wrote a follow up to Churchill's famous "History of the English Speaking Peoples" that covers 1920 through the 90s) uses Churchill, Regan, Thatcher, along with a sprinkling of Washington and Lincoln to outline the strong points of each that led to their well known greatness.
Key points are:
To have a solid idea of what one stands for, but not necessarily on every single, small issue (this facilitates proper prioritization)
To have willpower and not allow oneself to fall victim to the changing (and fickle) tides of public opinion as well as the desire to see things through even when challenged
To be tenacious and not give up
A strong ability to communicate through rhetoric (or, often, humor)
Finally, magnanimity in victory.
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