Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower – no intellectual giants, to be sure – showed excellent judgment as they established the post-war international order that has supported peace in much of the world for decades. Others, including Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, have had great gifts – say, the ability to inspire or a talent for persuasion.
美国幅员辽阔，足以作为伟大领袖的诞生之所。有些总统也确实颇有成就。哈里·杜鲁门和德怀特·艾森豪威尔——虽然谈不上思想巨人——但在建立数十年支撑世界和平的战后国际秩序时展现出了卓越的判断力。其他人，包括罗纳德·里根和比尔·克林顿，拥有极高的天赋——即鼓动能力和说服的艺术。