--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think there are periods in this country…" description: "\"I think there are periods in this country when behavior is abhorrent: McCarthy, Watergate, Bill Clinton. It's just a question of how the checks and bal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/jake-tapper-4443_american_i-think-there-are-periods-in-this-countr_2617169.jpg" --- # I think there are periods in this country when behavior is… ![“I think there are periods in this country when behavior is abhorrent: McCarthy, Watergate, Bill Clinton. It's just a question of how the checks and balances in the American system work and how leaders stand up to it or don't stand up to it.” quote by Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/jake-tapper-4443_american_i-think-there-are-periods-in-this-countr_2617169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/jake-tapper-4443_american_i-think-there-are-periods-in-this-countr_2617169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/jake-tapper-4443_american_i-think-there-are-periods-in-this-countr_2617169.jpg) > “I think there are periods in this country when behavior is abhorrent: McCarthy, Watergate, Bill Clinton. It's just a question of how the checks and balances in the American system work and how leaders stand up to it or don't stand up to it.” [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Periods of moral decline appear when leaders fail to uphold checks and balances. **In simple terms:** When leaders ignore accountability, society suffers. Key Takeaway Demand accountability from leaders. Themes politics ethics accountability Mood critical concerned Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - election cycles - policy debates Key Concepts government oversight public trust Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can strengthen oversight? - How can citizens influence accountability? A Different Perspective Complex issues may have multiple causes beyond leadership. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abhorrent Mccarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abhorrent-mccarthy-2077497/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Behavior Abhorrent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior-abhorrent-511897/) [Checks and balances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks-and-balances/) [Country Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-behavior-2077493/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Mccarthy Watergate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mccarthy-watergate-2077495/) [Stand up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-up/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Those that are good manners at the court are as ridiculous in the country, as the behavior of the country is most mockable at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/those-that-are-good-manners-at-the-court-are-as-ridiculous-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I do not believe that loyalty should demand defending behavior that I find abhorrent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stephanopoulos/i-do-not-believe-that-loyalty-should-demand-defending-behavior-that-i/) [George Stephanopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stephanopoulos/) > [The Constitutional framework of checks and balances matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/the-constitutional-framework-of-checks-and-balances-matters/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [“The independence of the arms of government must be checked. Let's be real if the so-called 'democracy' we were sold doesn't embrace this and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-santo/the-independence-of-the-arms-of-government-must-be-checked-let-s-be/) [DON SANTO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-santo/) > [Suddenly, we humans - a recently arrived species, no longer subject to the checks and balances inherent in nature - have grown in population,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/suddenly-we-humans-a-recently-arrived-species-no-longer-subject-to/) [Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/) > [You’ve got to be kidding me. I thought you were the most powerful of beings. Even the gods fear you. 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And in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/we-are-a-republic-very-inefficient-if-you-want-a-really-efficient/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [Politicians, in many cases - their moral code will be dictated by what can get them reelected, what they can get away with. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/politicians-in-many-cases-their-moral-code-will-be-dictated-by-what/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) ## More by Jake Tapper > [You know what takes effort? Being kind, being patient, being respectful, telling someone how you feel politely instead of just avoiding them for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/you-know-what-takes-effort-being-kind-being-patient-being-respectful/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [My job, in general, is nonfiction, so writing fiction was liberating. 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My job is to tell the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/my-job-is-not-to-be-liked-my-job-is-to-tell-the-truth/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It took me years to realize I wanted to be in journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/it-took-me-years-to-realize-i-wanted-to-be-in-journalism/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [There are news sources that are just out-and-out lies coming from Europe, coming from other parts of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/there-are-news-sources-that-are-just-out-and-out-lies-coming-from/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It matters to people that the president tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/it-matters-to-people-that-the-president-tell-them-the-truth/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [My job is to be skeptical: skeptical of people like Edward Snowden and skeptical of the U.S. government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/my-job-is-to-be-skeptical-skeptical-of-people-like-edward-snowden-and/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [I did freelance cartooning off and on from college graduation in 1991 through ABC News hiring me in 2003. 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