Advice and Guidelines for a New President:
Presidents Come and Go but the Office Must Remain Reputable
Every four years a new president takes an oath of office. Even if re-elected, that president begins, yet, a new term. Thus every four years there is an opportunity for a new course based upon lessons of history.
In America everyone has the privilege to write to the White House to give advice. You can call, write letters to the editor, or ask your local senators and congressmen to carry your message for you. Talk shows offer free advice to the president, and one may publish advice in a wide variety of websites and blogs which allow citizens to post advice for free.
Presidential Quotes
Even past presidents have left comments and advice to help identify the hardships of the position and provide guidance for future presidents:
"That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves." - Thomas Jefferson
“If you see the President, tell him from me that whatever happens there will be no turning back.” - Ulysses S. Grant
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt
"My God, this is a hell of a job! I have no trouble with my enemies . . . but my damn friends, they're the ones that keep me walking the floor nights." - Warren Harding
"There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure." - Dwight David Eisenhower
“A president's hardest task is not to do what is right but to know what is right” - Lyndon B. Johnson
"Indecision is often worse than wrong action." - Gerald Ford
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
“Whatever you do, tell the truth.” – Grover Cleveland
“Yours is not the task of making your way in the world, but the task of remaking the world which you will find before you.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Advice for a New President
Ten Guiding Principles for Presidential Wisdom:
While many people offer advice about specific issues such as health insurance, taxes or politics, it is best for all future presidents to remember the sound, basic principles and values that have served America throughout our history:
(1) A president should not represent just republicans or democrats. The role of government is for the health, safety and welfare of all citizens and the government is for all citizens - one by the people, of the people, and for the people. A political party is simply a mechanism to achieve the office - it is not the office!
(2) Be responsible, ethical, moral, legitimate and legal, and act within the power ascribed.
(3) Streamline the government and administrative burdens and demands that are crushing small businesses and citizens and taxpayers.
(4) Regulate big business and monopolies. Give the people a fair playing field - do not cater to the corporate lobbyists or special interests groups that are oppressing the people.
(5) Spread peace throughout America and the World… let the real legacy of the President of the United States be a pro-life administration in all forms and to all peoples.
(6) Compromise on the unimportant things, but stay the course on the more serious.
(7) Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
(8) Follow the word of the Constitution and the intent of the Forefathers.
(9) Fix the problem.
(10) Listen to the advice you received when growing up: Work hard, resist temptation, keep the traditions, do random acts of kindness, don’t spend more than America can afford, keep the faith, and do not compromise values.
Another Offering of Advice
Organized religion and faith refer to a set of guiding beliefs, principles, and values that give meaning and purpose to life especially during difficult times. Religion is a very important element in American life—in fact—one of six pillars that support a healthy and functional society.
Religious practice was essential in the United States becoming civilized, and changing from the "Wild West" into a cultured and enlightened society. Most importantly, there are numerous historical precedents demonstrating that America - and the founding fathers - were deeply committed to religion, and yes, mostly—although not exclusively, to Judeo-Christian principles. These underlined and also functioned as indicators of basic American values.
Yet, we have a premise whereby religion has been aggressively attacked, and attacked with both malice and intent.
During the cultural revolution of the 1960’s, people began to leave religion. They forgot God. They forgot to include God in thanks for their daily meals, forgot to include God in their families, forgot to worship God, forgot to bring their children up in the sacraments, and forgot to go to Church Services on Sundays. They began to neglect God. Many still remember the chant of those times, the modern day mantra, that “God was dead.” No, God isn’t dead, He was forgotten…. in fact, he still answers those who call upon Him although they are fewer in number.
As of late, the media, Hollywood, universities and colleges, civil rights groups, and liberals and progressives have taken to deny the true role of religion in the founding of the United States and the shaping of our national identify which is based upon "truth, justice, and the American way."
One journalist stated that “whenever religion comes in contact with politics or public policy, the media reacts in one of three distinct ways…but all are negative: he stated that reporters either “treat religion as beneath mention, as personally distasteful, or as a clear and present danger to the American way of life.”
And yet youth who participate in religious activities are more likely to have better emotional and mental health than those with no religious involvement. Families with religious practices have a higher quality and satisfaction with life. Others often say that it was their belief in God and prayer and religion that got them through the hard times.
The attack on organized religion continues without mercy. One of the most visible is the continuing attacks on the claim that the Constitution of the United States mandates “Separation of Church and State.” But the facts speak otherwise. There is no Separation of Church and State clause either in the Bill or Rights, or anywhere in the Constitution of the United States. In fact, Amendment I of the Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” The phrase “Separation of Church and State” was originally used specific to one purpose - to assure that the government would “never force a person to practice one religion alone—the state chosen religion” as had happened in Europe after the 30 Years War.
However, the negative impact upon America from this misinterpretation of the constitution is that during the last generation, the courts, at all levels, have ruled in ways that essentially guarantee freedom from religion, instead of the freedom of religion.
My advice to any incoming president, is to change the flow of this dynamic. Religion plays an essential role in people's lives, and any president worth his office will assure that the bias, prejudice and discrimination against the religious cease to exist. Religious intolerance is the last acceptable "ism" practice in America. It needs to stop.
Presidential Legacy
As president, one should surround oneself with good and competent people - people with compassion, with a heart, and who care. Above all remember Lord Acton’s famous quote “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” No president can solve every problem, but one’s legacy should be that as President at least one or two significant problems were solved. After all, presidents may come and go, but the office must always remain reputable and respectable and free from fraud and corruption.