Dwight D. Eisenhower didn’t lead with bravado. He didn’t govern by grievance. He led with character. A five-star general who commanded the Allied victory in Europe, Eisenhower understood power better than most. But he also understood something far more important: responsibility. As president, he brought the same calm discipline to the White House that he had brought to the battlefield—not...

On September 24, 2015, Pope Francis made history as the first pontiff to address a Joint Session of the U.S. Congress. Nearly a decade later, his message still resonates with clarity and urgency. Francis reminded lawmakers that public service is more than legislation, it is a moral occupation: “You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow...

Good Night, and Good Luck, starring George Clooney on Broadway is a wake-up call about the ethical courage we desperately need today—a timely parable based on a pivotal moment in American history when journalism was not only a public service, but a moral stand. The play recalls the courage of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow as he confronted Senator Joseph...

In a time when political rhetoric pushes us toward isolation, history reminds us that the greatest leaders understood a fundamental truth: America is strongest when we invest not just in ourselves but in the stability of the world around us. After World War II, Europe was in ruins: Cities were bombed out; economies devastated; and millions faced starvation. Exhausted from...

About once a year, the American Film Institute invites filmgoers to vote on the greatest heroes in cinema. Indiana Jones, James Bond, and Superman typically run high on the list because of the high-stakes, visually striking moments and the conflict of good versus evil, something that resonates powerfully on the big screen. Yet, one character consistently tops the list—a character...

Veterans Day is a time to honor the countless men and women who’ve served our country through war and peace, putting the nation’s needs above their own. Their courage and dedication remind us what it truly means to defend our freedom—freedom to speak, worship, assemble, and live in peace and safety. In many schools, each day starts with the pledge...

In a public letter, 111 former top Republican officials have put aside party loyalty for the sake of national security and the future of our democracy. Republican Former National Security Leaders Statement of Support for Vice President Harris We are former national security and foreign policy officials who served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George...

I first heard about John Gilbert Winant several years ago in Concord, New Hampshire, while I was teaching a class on ethics. My co-captain, Professor Stephen Ambra, spoke admiringly of the three-term Republican governor of the state. However, the most compelling part of Winant’s story unfolded during his time abroad, serving as the U.S. Ambassador to England. In 1941, Democrat...

On this anniversary of 9/11, let’s take a moment to remember those we lost and honor the heroes who ran toward danger. It was a day that tested so many who put their lives on the line to save others and brought out the best in us—courage, compassion, duty, and a sense of unity that crossed all divides. As we...

In the 1942 classic Casablanca, Rick Blane is a man who unapologetically schemes, lies, cheats and does whatever it takes to survive in Nazi-controlled French Morocco. Moments before he persuades Ilsa—the lost love of his life—to fly off with Nazi resistance fighter Victor Lazlo, he gives one of the most well-known lines in movie history. “Ilsa, I’m no good at...