Guest Columnist: Joshua H. Batchelder
Reply to a friend who voted for Harris and couldn't understand why he didn't.
Note from Angela: I’ve known Joshua for almost 25 years. We are fellow authors. I serve as his editor for certain projects, and this year also as his publisher. More on that at the end of this letter. Joshua is 93 years old.
[His friend’s name has been redacted for privacy.]
Dearest L—,
I have some reflections about your hurt from the recent historic landslide election.
My prayer is that you and my other loved ones may find some peace when you consider the repeated historical precedents I’ll share. These historical precedents illustrate national leaders’ choices when attempting to solve national and international crises.
To me, in survival situations, wisdom demands a leader’s head must lead his heart. I’m offering my experience of living through the following similar swings of voters’ reaction to their leaders choices in the face of multiple crises of economic and security conditions.
Checking Wikipedia, you’ll find more evidence of different leaders’ strengths and weaknesses that led to dramatic regime changes, repeated history lessons I’ve lived to witness.
Before citing these examples, I think I should take a moment to comment about Gushee pointing to a Biblical reference that seems to fit his judgment of Trump as a villain.
I could just as easily justify my negative POV of Joe Biden and the Democratic Party supporting him. Biden’s choices have him presiding over a series of clearly disastrous policies while focusing on less urgent issues which have encouraged the illegal immigrant invasion of our borders, serious inflation, rising energy prices, wars in Ukraine, and potential for World War III, the rising tensions between China and Taiwan, government agencies supporting lawfare, and encouraging the FBI and the Treasury to go after Republican adversaries.
Because I believe we share Christian love, a strong spiritual connection, and openness to listen to contrary views, I’ve taken the time to respond to your previous email. This is also is an opportunity to share with my loved ones in the family who also feel hurt. Though I am an optimistic believer, I can envision the possibility of a “Golden Era” of better times ahead from 70% of voters’ belief that our government was on the wrong course damaging our economy and security.
The policy positions stark differences and priorities made it easier to choose sides. Now for some examples I’ve witnessed in my life.
Great Britain’s Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement approach to negotiations at the 1938 Munich agreement only encouraged Germany’s dictator, Hitler, to go after more territory.
Today, a similar situation is occurring. Perceiving American weakness with the Biden administration, Russia and China seek more territory and threaten Taiwan and more control of the oceans.
May 1940: Chamberlain resigned allowing an experienced War Department leader of Britain’s Royal Navy to become Prime Minister overnight. Winston Churchill’s solution: “Fight. Never Surrender.” He went on to lead England through WWII leading to the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers.
Democrat President Roosevelt chose General Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower to be Allied Supreme Commander for the European Theater. To me it was the best choice because Eisenhower’s leadership style was best suited to manage U.S. and British generals along with France’s egotistical General de Gaulle. He knew how to build a coalition that would work together for the benefit of all parties. The end of the war began on D-Day and didn’t take long to finish. That cooperation saved untold lives.
Then U.S. President Truman, a Democrat and Roosevelt’s VP, allowed his head to lead his heart in the summer of 1945 when he made the difficult decisions to drop two nuclear bombs — on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan — killing hundreds of thousands. But it saved millions more of American and Japanese lives from an imminent invasion and a prolonged war.
With the end of World War II Churchill lost favor with the British people as they labored to recover from the ravages of war. His style was best suited for crises.
June 1950, Truman was still president when Communist North Korea, supported by communist China, invaded South Korea starting the Korean War. The brilliant and domineering General Douglas MacArthur conducted the war but was soon replaced by Truman when the general tried to overrule the president’s decisions. The president, as you know, is the Commander in Chief. He would not be the only general to be fired.
June 1950 the Korean War was another crisis for the United Kingdom needing strong leadership. Churchill was welcomed back as Prime Minister for a second term, to lead Britain 1951-55.
September 1950 I joined the Air Force. In 1952, I was stationed at Chanute Air Force Base several hours south of Chicago during the summer the Republicans were choosing a nomination for president.
In uniform, I visited the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago where I was invited down to the floor of the convention. Generals Eisenhower and MacArthur were vying for the nomination. I favored MacArthur’s strength as the best man to win the war. However, Eisenhower won the Republican nomination and went on to become president as Truman ended his second term.
July 1953, shortly after Eisenhower became President, the Korean War ended. The popular general “Ike” Eisenhower went for a second term under the banner of “Peace and Prosperity” plus “Peace through Strength”, and accomplished things nationally including implementing our interstate highway system as well as supporting increasing technology, more education, and a robust economy
Eisenhower’s vice president, Richard Nixon, was elected twice as president of the United States serving between 1969-1974. He served as a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator from California. Nixon’s successes, including international agreements, led to his historic landslide election for a second term.
Unfortunately, Watergate opened the door to an unknown marginally popular Democrat businessman from Georgia, Jimmy Carter. Nixon resigned (first president to do so) and VP Gerald Ford, who served out the term as president, narrowly lost to Carter, in the 1976 election.
Carter was perceived as politically weak and had to deal with adversaries including many within his own party. It’s interesting to me that the mantra of the time was “Love and Trust”. Looking back at his governing style we have to ask: In times of crises did Carter’s heart rule his decisions?
Carter was known as a smart nuclear engineer. He loved detail and was a micromanager in his administration. The public had had enough. Add to his list of failures that cost him a second term, we had an energy crisis and he mishandled the 444-day-long Iran Hostage Crisis. Adding insult to injury, the hostages were released just minutes after Republican Ronald Reagan (formerly a Democrat union leader) was sworn in as president.
Currently, before Trump becomes president (if he isn’t assassinated), his winning of the election is already causing things to happen internationally and politically. Have you heard about the press release announcing the end of debit cards for illegal immigrants? That has stopped about 50% of the migrants already on the way to the U.S. Amazing! The threat of being turned back in January 2025 began accomplishing some of the Trump promises.
Stay tuned for what other good things can happen.
I think it’s worth considering that Joe Biden is a hugging personality who was really loved by many, though his adversaries often claimed he was usually on the wrong side of history from his votes on policies throughout his political career as senator.
I keep returning to what I believe is a necessary balancing of choices during survival crises when our heads must lead our hearts. It seems obvious to many that Trump has a big heart and only wants what is best for the country. However, his adversaries accuse him of what they themselves are doing. Plus, they have weaponized the law — thus the term lawfare — in heavily Democrat areas of the country to bring illegitimate charges against him.
I know you might not agree. But his strength is leading with his head first and that means not tolerating bad and unlawful decisions.
You are my sister in Christ. We have that in common and it is the glue that binds us no matter what turmoil arises in the world. See you at church next Sunday.
Much love,
Josh
PS: So, Gushee? I suggest in crisis he’s leading with his heart rather than his head.
Joshua H. Batchelder is the author of over 13 books. His new book for men is entitled The Modern-Day Renaissance Man: A Spiritual Odyssey and is available at Amazon.com in three formats: Ebook, Paperback, and Hardback.
