Rather often in life, it is helpful to find role models. Both good role models and bad ones can help you make good decisions and avoid making bad ones. I once worked for a boss in the Pentagon who was a micromanager, did not trust his people, and was afraid to make decisions. After working for him for a year, I learned so much. Often, I would ask myself, what would he have done in a certain situation. Avoiding stupidity is almost as useful as making good decisions. After a year, this bad boss was fired and soon retired.
For those interested in finding role models, both positive and negative, this list may be helpful. For instance, George Marshall can teach us a great deal about character, leadership, and strategic planning. Judy Woodruff can be a role model for those interested in professionalism in the media. Brad Raffensperger has outlined his philosophy in his well-titled book, Integrity Counts.
An excellent negative role model is Joe McCarthy. The book by Larry Tye entitled Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy is highly recommended. This book provides the reader with two negative role models, Joe McCarthy and Roy Cohn.
With so much attention focused on Tucker Carlson in recent weeks, it may be time to take a look at folks in the news and compare them with prominent individuals in history.
Fox News anchor, Tucker Carlson has become a skillful advocate for Trumpism. Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham at Fox and Rachel Maddow at MSNBC have skills as spin doctors, but they cannot compare with Tucker Carlson. His skill is world-class. An easy comparison can be made between Carlson and the most adroit propagandist in history, Leni Riefenstahl. Those not familiar with this German filmmaker of the 1930’s may wish to watch, on YouTube, The Triumph of the Will.
The following is a list of comparisons. As you will see, this list includes some admirable figures and some others. Comments and criticism are welcome.
Judy Woodruff—Edward R Morrow
Marjorie Taylor Greene–Rush Limbaugh
Mike Pence—-Dan Quayle
Brad Raffensperger—John McCain
Donald Trump—- Richard Nixon
Liz Cheney—-Jeane Kirkpatrick
Vladimir Putin— Joseph Stalin
Volodymyr Zelenskyy—–Winston Churchill
Kevin McCarthy—Joe McCarthy
Mark Esper—-Jim Schlesinger
Anthony Blinken—-Henry Kissinger
Mark Milley—- Colin Powell
Recep Tayyip Erdogan—Juan Peron
Mitch McConnell—-Jesse Helms
Tucker Carlson— Leni Riefenstahl
Cassidy Hutchinson—Margaret Chase Smith
Xi Jinping—Mao Zedong
Bill Barr—John Mitchell
Rudy Giuliani—Roy Cohn
Jared Kushner—Bob Haldeman
Jim Baker—Andy Goodpaster
Rachel Maddow—Dan Rather
Brian Kemp—Jimmy Carter
Pete Buttigieg—Richard Lugar
Bob Gates—Brent Scowcroft
Lloyd Austin—Bill Perry
Lester Holt—Tom Brokaw
Amna Nawas—Gwen Ifell
Geoff Bennett—Jim Lehrer
Tim Walz—Hubert Humphrey
Jon Meacham—-Ted Sorensen
Tom Johnson—Ben Bradlee
J. Michael Luttig—John Dean
Names that may not be familiar: Tim Walz is the governor of Minnesota. Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawas are co-anchors on the PBS NewsHour. Michael Luttig is the conservative judge who was sharply critical of Donald Trump at the January 6 hearings.
PLEASE NOTE: The only people on this list whom I know personally are Judy Woodruff and Brad Raffensperger.
Major General Perry Smith USAF (ret.) is a graduate of West Point and later, he earned a Ph.D. in International Relations from Columbia University. His email address is genpsmith@aol.com.
