Dr. James David Barber’s well-known, provocative examination of who has the potential to be voted into the highest office in the land — and why — is being reissued as the newest addition to the “Longman Classics in Political Science” series.  

 

Arguing that patterns in a person’s character, world view, and style can allow us to anticipate their performance as president, The Presidential Character offers explanations and predictions of the performance of presidents and presidential candidates.  Drawing on historical, biographical, and psychological research, Dr. Barber hoped to help voters make judicious choices in determining the country’s highest leaders.  Revisiting this classic work in today’s important presidential election season begs a reconsideration of Barber’s probing and enduring query, “What should we look for in a president?"