Summary

In Chapter 2, the author examines Donald Trump’s personal character. The author highlights past presidents who exhibited strong character, intelligence, eloquence, and other virtues. The author then contrasts these virtues with some of the deeply crass and unintelligent things that the author has overheard Trump say in the Oval Office. The author states that of all the presidents thus far, Trump is the one with by far the worst personal character. The author refers to virtues of character articulated by Cicero (an orator from Ancient Rome) and states that Trump meets none of Cicero’s principles of good character. The author starts with the ideas of wisdom and intelligence. Trump shows no willingness to absorb new information; he does not read, and he resists officials who try to brief him with new and relevant information. Trump seems to believe that he possesses innate knowledge...