Who amongst us thinks we are living in a time of statesmen? Pressed to name one, who could honestly list a “statesman” bestriding the streets of Washington today? Some of us might throw off the name of a favored political figure, but statesmanship has to be about something more than temporary favorability—indeed, in some ages it might mean the opposite. Where are our Ciceros, our Washingtons, our Pericles? Where, even, are our Daniel Websters or Henry Clays?
Even though we have generally been dissatisfied with our politics through most of American history, we have to acknowledge that we are suffering through a profoundly bad time in our political life. Almost all political institutions are suffering from low ratings of trust. Our political class is distrusted nearly universally. Our politicians seem to cower before the most radical elements in their party for fear of losing a primary election. Existential threats remain unchecked. Our last two presidents have hit historic polling lows for leaders during a growing economy, and we have had three presidential impeachments in less than twenty-five years. It may be fair to say that statesmanship is rare in any age, but it also may be fair to assume that it is rarer in some ages than in others.
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