Candidates Quote by David Halberstam
““What it came down to was a search not for the most talent, the greatest brilliance, but for the fewest black marks, the fewest objections. The man who had made the fewest enemies in an era when forceful men espousing good causes had made many enemies: the Kennedys were looking for someone who made very small waves. They were looking for a man to fill the most important Cabinet post, a job requiring infinite qualities of intelligence, wisdom and sophistication, a knowledge of both this country and the world, and they were going at it as presidential candidates had often filled that other most crucial post, the Vice-Presidency, by choosing someone who had offended the fewest people. Everybody’s number-two choice.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam, 1972
Political leaders are often chosen for their ability to avoid controversy and make few enemies, valuing consensus over brilliance.
In simple terms: Choosing low‑conflict candidates over the most talented.
Key Takeaway
Consider the trade‑off between competence and controversy.
Themes
politics
leadership
conflict avoidance
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- election campaigns
- cabinet appointments
- policy negotiations
Key Concepts
consensus building
political strategy
ethical compromise
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it better to have a brilliant but divisive leader?
- How can leaders balance integrity with broad appeal?
![“Theodore Sorensen wrote for [Robert Kennedy's 1968] announcement speech: “At stake is not simply the leadership of our party, and even our own country, it is our right to the moral leadership of this planet.” The sentence absolutely appalled all the younger Robert Kennedy advisers, who felt it…” quote by David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f6e/david-halberstam-9032_communication_theodore-sorensen-wrote-for-robert-kenne_12566.jpg)
