IN many respects, these are times of promise. But sadly, they are also times of the eclipse of ideals. 'Nation,' 'democracy,' 'patriotism,' 'the rule of law' — these were ideals that inspired the loftiest of sentiments. Now, to our collective detriment as a nation, we trade them for tasteless pottage! It can never be a promising sign for a nation to lose its ideals and, in consequence, suffer the scourge of divisiveness and incessant rancor. That, regrettably, is our sad state.

When one has been president of the country, one knows how vitally important it is to have the entire nation at his back, for no leadership can succeed when those behind constantly plot against him who leads. And so it is that the last person to inflame the passions of rabid followers against the incumbent leadership is one who has sat on that high and mighty but often hard and uncomfortable chair!