Kids Edition: What Makes A Good President?

We explore the essential qualities of a good president according to America's founding fathers and how these same virtues helped Abraham Lincoln lead during the Civil War. These timeless leadership traits—honesty, wisdom, courage, and respect for the people—remain relevant for aspiring leaders of all ages today.

• Founders worried about giving one person too much power while still needing a strong leader
• Washington demonstrated honesty by refusing to become king despite popular support
• Hamilton emphasized the importance of wisdom and knowledge of laws, history, and military affairs
• Madison believed presidential power must come from the people, not from the office itself
• Lincoln exemplified these qualities during the Civil War through his honesty, constitutional wisdom, and courage
• The qualities that make a good president—honesty, wisdom, courage, respect—can apply to leadership at any level
• These same characteristics can make someone a good friend, classmate, or future leader

Remember, the qualities that make good presidents can help you become a better leader in your own life!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi friends, welcome back to Civics in a Year Kids
Edition.
Today's big question is what dothe founders say are the key
qualities of a good president?
Let's start with a littleimagination.
Think about your school.
What if you got to pick a classpresident to help make
decisions, represent thestudents and maybe even talk to

(00:22):
the principal for the wholeclass?
Would you pick a kid who alwaysbrags or one who never does
their homework?
Probably not.
You'd want someone who's honest, responsible and willing to
work hard for everyone, not justthemselves.
Well, when the founders of theUnited States were writing the
Constitution in 1787, they had asimilar challenge what makes a

(00:46):
good president for the wholecountry?
Founders, people like GeorgeWashington, alexander Hamilton
and James Madison, worried aboutgiving one person too much
power.
They didn't want another king,but they also knew the country
needed a leader who could actquickly and wisely when
important decisions had to bemade.

(01:07):
So what qualities did they saywere the most important?
First of all, honesty andcharacter.
A president should betrustworthy and set a good
example.
Washington showed this byrefusing to become a king even
though people wanted him to.
Secondly, wisdom and knowledge.
Alexander Hamilton wrote thatthe president needs to

(01:29):
understand laws, history andeven the military, so they can
protect the country.
Third, courage Leaders have tomake hard choices, even when
they aren't popular.
Lastly, respect for the people.
James Madison believedpresidents must remember that
power comes from the people, notfrom themselves.

(01:52):
Let's fast forward about 70years to another famous
president, abraham Lincoln.
When Lincoln became presidentin 1861, the country was divided
and headed into the Civil War.
Talk about a tough job, but thequalities the founders had
written about helped guide him.
Lincoln was known for hishonesty.
His nickname was Honest Abe.

(02:14):
He showed wisdom in studyingthe Constitution and searching
for the right way to keep thecountry together.
He showed courage by issuingthe Emancipation Proclamation
even though he knew not everyonewould support it.
And, most importantly, lincolnreminded the nation that the
government's power comes fromthe people, famously saying at

(02:35):
Gettysburg that our country isof the people, by the people and
for the people.
So what do the founders say makea good president?
Honesty, wisdom, courage,respect for the people.
So what do the founders saymake a good president?
Honesty, wisdom, courage,respect for the people.
And leaders like AbrahamLincoln showed that these
qualities aren't just words onpaper.
They were qualities that couldhold the nation together during

(02:58):
his hardest time.
So the next time you hear aboutpresidents past, present or
future think about thosequalities.
They're not always about beingthe loudest, the most popular or
the most powerful.
They're about serving otherswith character and courage.
I'm Liz, and this has beenCivic City, your Kids Edition.
Thanks for listening andremember the qualities that make

(03:20):
a good president can also makea good friend, classmate or even
future leader.
Who knows, maybe it's you.