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Washington among presidential 'Good Guys'

February 11, 2006 1:54 am

TWO EXPERTS on the psychol- ogy of leadership place George Washington in a small group of U.S. presidents they call the "Good Guys."

Steve Rubenzer and Thomas R. Faschingbauer authored the 2004 book "Personality, Character & Leadership in the White House: Psychologists Assess the Presidents."

Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, both of whom are widely believed to have beaten serious depression problems by becoming workaholics, were rated higher than 90 percent of Americans on focusing on their goals, according to the book, which includes input from a number of doctors and historians.

President George W. Bush, Rubenzer and Faschingbauer conclude, "most resembles Andrew Jackson and Ronald Reagan."

The authors began the Foundation for the Study of Personality in History in 1994 with a study on presidential personalities, inspired by criticism of President Bill Clinton, who they classify as an "Extrovert," along with John F. Kennedy and Franklin Roosevelt.

Rubenzer is a clinical psychologist in Houston. Faschingbauer is a retired clinical psychologist who has taught at Duke University Medical School and the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.

George Washington was born in Westmoreland County and grew up at Ferry Farm in Stafford County before moving to Mount Vernon in Arlington.

Richard Lahey, a National Park Service historian at Washington's Birthplace in Westmoreland, wouldn't disagree with the "Good Guy" assessment, but says the first president "was a hard guy to get your arms around--someone who was extremely private and always disinterested in having his personal life in the press."

Lahey said Washington didn't like "to talk to anybody but his friends" about private matters.

Today, Lahey noted, politicians are forced to talk ad nauseam "about how they grew up. Washington wasn't that way. Washington was reserved about his feelings."

"Personality, Character & Leadership in the White House" concludes that today, honesty and straightforwardness make success in the White House difficult, in spite of polls that show that's what the public says it wants. The authors conclude that, "A president's character has no relation to how good historians judge him to be."

Washington did do a good job of "spinning" his image in one way, though.

He was said to "have a really bad temper," Lahey said. "It was said that the only thing that trumped his temper was his self-control."

Lahey said Washington's resolve "gave him a certain kind of bearing--something that people wanted to follow."

In the film "The Patriot," Lahey noted, the director chose to convey Washington's presence merely by showing his shadow--and that was powerful enough.

"He could have ruined it all by being a chatterbox," Lahey said.

He said Washington passed through the world with "great fluidity, but wasn't much of a talker."

There will be much talk about him in the next two weeks, however.

Marion Nelson Winship, instructor of American history at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, will give a lecture on "Washington's Sense of Place" at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in the George Washington's Birthplace National Monument Visitor Center, 38 miles east of Fredericksburg at 1732 Popes Creek Road in Westmoreland County near Colonial Beach.

Admission to the lecture is free.

The 550-acre site includes the "heart" of the plantation owned by Washington's father, Augustine, the foundation of the home in which the first president was born and a 55-foot granite obelisk erected in 1896.

It also features a memorial mansion, outbuildings and a garden and farm. The Washington Family Burial Ground there contains the remains of Washington's father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Washington was born on Feb. 22 in 1732.

On Monday, Feb. 20, park ranger programs interpreting Washington's life and accomplishments will be given hourly. Costumed interpreters will perform plantation activities and farm chores throughout the day.

Also on Feb. 20--a federal holiday--gingerbread and hot cider will be served at the Log House from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., compliments of the George Washington Birthplace National Memorial Association.

On Feb. 22, birthday cake and punch will be served at 1 p.m. in the visitors center. Admission is free both days.

Free Lance-Star librarian Craig Schulin contributed to this story.

According to the Web site (personalityinhistory.com/default.asp) of the Personality and the Presidency Project, White House "Good Guys" include George Washington, Rutherford B. Hayes, Zachary Taylor, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Grover Cleveland and Gerald Ford.

Good Guys "almost never feel themselves to be worthless, are rarely jittery or tense, and don't feel overwhelmed by stress. They make good decisions even under adversity. They have a hard time lying, aren't crafty or sly, and don't trick, bully or flatter people to get their way. They don't spend much time fantasizing and daydreaming, but don't deny problems."

Dominators

The project concluded that presidential "Dominators" include Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Andrew Johnson, Andrew Jackson, James Polk, Teddy Roosevelt and Chester Arthur.

"They are prone to bully others and to disregard the feelings and rights of those not on their side. They are bossy, demanding, and domineering; they flatter or manipulate people to get their way. They bend or break rules, and as presidents, stretch the constraints of constitutional government. They are not religious or spiritual, and tend to be prejudiced."

Introverts

Those classified as "introverts" by the project are John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Richard Nixon, Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, James Buchanan, Woodrow Wilson and Benjamin Harrison.

"Introverted presidents are psychologically minded, complex, deep men. They are not regarded as warm and friendly, and have difficulty controlling social situations. They prefer to work alone and avoid close relationships. Often jittery or tense, they are not happy and high-spirited; they tend to feel irritable, overwhelmed by stress, and to overreact."

Innocents

William Howard Taft, Warren Harding and U.S. Grant are classified as "Innocents."

"Submissive and accept domination easily gullible, naive, suggestible. Not autonomous, independent or individualistic, they sometimes don't assert themselves when they should. Compared to other presidents (who are an industrious lot), they have trouble getting motivated and down to work, and are lethargic, sluggish, lazy, and slothful."

Actors

Ronald Reagan, Warren Harding, William Henry Harrison, Bill Clinton and Franklin Pierce.

"Compared to other presidents, actors are gullible, naive, and suggestible, warm and self-disclosing; they allow their feelings to show on their faces and in their posture. They are not meticulous, perfectionistic, or precise and tolerate unethical behavior in colleagues. Actors are enthusiastic, spirited, vivacious, zestful, charismatic and charming."

Maintainers

William McKinley, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford and Harry Truman.

"Maintainers stay focused on the job, work slowly but steadily, and are industrious, persistent, tenacious, thorough. They are uncreative, unimaginative, and do not indulge in elaborate daydreams and fantasies. They are conforming and conventional, not rebellious."

Philosophers

James Garfield, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Jimmy Carter and Rutherford Hayes.

"Compared to other presidents, Philosophers are curious and inquisitive, interested in science, and fascinated by patterns in nature and art. They are concerned with philosophical issues (religion, the meaning of life) broadminded They are also nice people: They believe that everyone is deserving of respect."

Extroverts

FDR, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, William Harrison, Warren Harding, Andrew Jackson and LBJ.

"Extroverted presidents are enthusiastic, spirited, vivacious, and zestful; they call attention to themselves. They are impetuous, uninhibited, unrestrained, are not consistent, predictable, or steady. They don't take pride in being rational or objective."

For more information on the Personality and the Presidency Project, see the Web site at personalityinhistory.com/Default.asp, or the book "Personality, Character & Leadership in the White House: Psychologists Assess the Presidents," published by Brassey's and available at Amazon.com.