For my write-up today on Richard Nixon's 1962 book Six Crises, I'll quote what Nixon says on page 344 about his preparation for the 1960 Presidential debates:
"I
followed my usual practice of reading as widely as possible and of
listening to as much advice as I could cram into my crowded schedule.
But in the final analysis, I knew that what was most important was that I
must be myself. I have seen so-called public relations experts ruin
many a candidate by trying to make him over into an 'image' of something
he can never be. I went into the second debate determined to do my
best to convey three basic impressions to the television
audience----knowledge in depth of the subjects discussed, sincerity, and
confidence. If I succeeded in this, I felt my 'image' would take care
of itself."
Do I buy into the notion that people will like me if I
just be myself? Well, yes and no. Perhaps there are areas in which I
should not just be myself, but should behave according to what is
considered to be socially appropriate. But there are also areas in
which I can't be anyone other than myself. In my opinion, there is a
place for me being at peace with myself, for me being comfortable with
who I am and how I am, and for me capitalizing on my strengths.
I also thought of Sarah Palin when I read that passage in Six Crises.
Nixon was good at facts and figures, but he was not as good in terms of
personal skills (or such is my understanding). Palin, however, was not
as good at facts and figures, but she had charisma. Should she have
crammed her head with facts and figures in preparing for the 2008
Vice-Presidential debate? That may not have helped her, for she
wouldn't have come across as glib and as confident as she did. It would
have been nice had she conveyed a deeper understanding of the issues,
however. And, if she did not have that, she probably shouldn't have
been picked to be John McCain's VP candidate. Sure, people should not
be expected to be something that they're not. But jobs should have
qualifications, for people do jobs better when they are qualified for
them.