51 assassination litter the pages of history while others experienced “near misses” where they were wounded and may have even tottered on the brink of death. Many of these leaders may have survived a literal assassination but they suffered immense emotional and/or pain from character assassination, public verbal and psychological attacks upon their families, and other consequences of being in a position of prominence. Some of this danger cannot be avoided. Anyone who serves in a position of authority or of high visibility and recognition could be a victim of an insane or outraged opponent. Likewise, some of the stresses of leadership are equally unavoidable. In fact, as almost everyone knows, some stress actually serves to implement change, can be used to inspire and motivate, and, in the case of the individual leader, managed stress can facilitate heightened awareness, focus adrenaline, and provide energy when fatigue sets in. By the same token, almost everyone also understands, however, that continuous stress can result in both short-term and long-term destruction, mentally, emotionally, physically, and/or spiritually, whether that stress is internally self-imposed, results from external pressures, or both. As Heifetz demonstrates, leaders must take time to reflect and to listen to themselves. Doing so, as he adds, “requires a place where one can hear oneself think … a sanctuary to restore one’s sense of purpose, put issues in perspective, and regain courage and heart. … Just as leadership demands a strategy of mobilizing people, it also requires a strategy of deploying and restoring one’s own spiritual resources.”4 Countless examples in U.S. history abound of important leaders who found refuge in various ways and locations, and some will be briefly introduced below. First and foremost, people of the Christian faith will recall that even Jesus took time away from his active earthly ministry to pray, reflect, meditate, rest, and re-energize. As one biblical passage records, “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”5 Viewed through the lens of history, the concept of leaders seeking “a sanctuary” has numerous examples. In the history of the United States this is especially true of the highest office in the land and arguably the most powerful leadership position in the world since 1945: the presidency of the U. S. It is to examples of a few of the men of the fortyfive who have held this office that this paper now turns. LEADERS, LEADERSHIP, AND “SANCTUARY”: A FOCUS ON SIX U.S. PRESIDENTS AND THE PROBLEM OF REST
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