--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Previous presidents, and not just…" description: "\"“Previous presidents, and not just Clinton, have of course lacked scruples. What was, to many of the people who knew Trump well, much more confounding ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/michael-wolff-423_cause-and-effect_previous-presidents-and-not-just-clinton_2423815.jpg" --- # Previous presidents, and not just Clinton, have of course… ![“Previous presidents, and not just Clinton, have of course lacked scruples. What was, to many of the people who knew Trump well, much more confounding was that he had managed to win this election, and arrive at this ultimate accomplishment, wholly lacking what in some obvious sense must be the main…” quote by Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/michael-wolff-423_cause-and-effect_previous-presidents-and-not-just-clinton_2423815.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/michael-wolff-423_cause-and-effect_previous-presidents-and-not-just-clinton_2423815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/michael-wolff-423_cause-and-effect_previous-presidents-and-not-just-clinton_2423815.jpg) > ““Previous presidents, and not just Clinton, have of course lacked scruples. What was, to many of the people who knew Trump well, much more confounding was that he had managed to win this election, and arrive at this ultimate accomplishment, wholly lacking what in some obvious sense must be the main requirement of the job, what neuroscientists would call executive function. He had somehow won the race for president, but his brain seemed incapable of performing what would be essential tasks in his new job. He had no ability to plan and organize and pay attention and switch focus; he had never been able to tailor his behavior to what the goals at hand reasonably required. On the most basic level, he simply could not link cause and effect.”” [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that Trump lacks essential executive functions like planning, attention, and adaptability, making him unfit for presidency. **In simple terms:** Trump lacks planning and focus skills. Key Takeaway Recognize the need for executive competence in leadership. Themes leadership competence politics psychology Mood critical analytical skeptical Type political psychological commentary When to use this quote - campaign strategy - governance - decision making - public communication Key Concepts executive function cognitive deficits political fitness Questions to Reflect On - How important are executive functions for effective leadership? - Can a leader succeed despite cognitive limitations? A Different Perspective The assessment may oversimplify complex political dynamics and ignore other leadership strengths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-incapable-1928184/) [Cause and effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-and-effect/) [Lacked Scruples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacked-scruples-6143367/) [Neuroscientists Executive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neuroscientists-executive-5394308/) [New job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-job/) [Pay attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-attention/) [President Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-brain-1928185/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Trump Confounding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump-confounding-5394309/) ## Related quotes > [“What was, to many of the people who knew Trump well, much more confounding was that he had managed to win this election, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/what-was-to-many-of-the-people-who-knew-trump-well-much-more/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [“He had somehow won the race for president, but his brain seemed incapable of performing what would be essential tasks in his new job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/he-had-somehow-won-the-race-for-president-but-his-brain-seemed/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [How'd you communicate?" 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