In chapter 9, Hanson discusses Trump’s role as a crude messenger in the white house. He begins by addressing the criticisms and fears of liberals and Never-Trumpers with having someone so uncouth and vulgar in the White House.
Hansen responds to this by putting Trump’s vulgarity and actions in context with other presidents. He points out that Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton all regularly had scandals and problems that were much more newsworthy than Trump’s. Both Wilson and FDR experienced significant health crises that were hidden from the American public, and Kennedy and Clinton’s sexual escapades were in many cases allegedly illegal. In comparison to many of his predecessors, Trump’s wrongs are far below that which the country has previously tolerated.
Hansen also points out that there has not been a correlation between the moral character of the president and their performance in office. Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter were both moral men who maintained their character in office. They are also among the most ineffective presidents in recent American history. Other presidents previously noted for their moral shortcomings were highly effective in governance.
Hansen cites the example of Harry Truman who was crass, offensive, and sometimes even threatened his detractors with violence. A political outsider, he went against the advice of many of his aides and higher-ups in government institutions to pursue the policy that he wanted. Many of Truman’s attacks and insults wring with a Trumpian sound, and Hansen points out that Truman was a highly effective president in spite of his character; Trump can achieve a similar feat.