When George Washington was 12, he began copying by hand “Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.” The first rule states: “Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.” Rule No. 65 says: “Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest; scoff at none though they give occasion.”
A 1949 U.S. Army pamphlet, “Personal Conduct for the Soldier,” offers similar prescriptions. In the foreword, Gen. Omar Bradley noted that good conduct was as applicable to the civilian as the soldier. Under the section titled “Self Control”: “You make a fool of yourself every time you let the old mind and body get out of control. . . . If you lose self-control, you’re like a ship without a rudder.” The section on “The Courteous Leader”: “Most great leaders are kind and courteous. . . . The leader who treats his men badly will find that his men behave badly. . . . A courteous attitude toward all races, nationalities, and religious faiths helps a man get along with people.”
… Mr. Trump has no self-control. He lashes out at immigrants, religious groups and military heroes. He lies with reckless abandon. In August, in what was outlandish even by Mr. Trump’s standards, he reposted on Truth Social a picture of Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton above a crude sexual joke. Just last week he was regaling a crowd about Arnold Palmer’s anatomy. These are things a disturbed 15-year-old boy would do, not the commander in chief, not the man who holds the nuclear codes, not the leader of the free world.
More recently, Mr. Trump called Ms. Harris “mentally impaired” and a “s— vice president.” This is a former president of the United States, a man who might represent the nation again. And for those of you who dismiss this kind of language or, worse, defend it, if Mr. Trump is re-elected you shouldn’t be surprised if this kind of aberrant behavior continues. And everything about it will affect the future of the nation.
Being a person of good character matters. Doing what is right matters because when a leader exhibits honor, integrity and decency, it instills those qualities in the culture of the institution and in the next generation of leaders. What will the culture of America look like if Donald Trump is re-elected? What will the next generation of leaders look like if they are followers of Donald Trump?
William McRaven, Trump Fails George Washington’s Civility Test (unlocked)