Presidential Courage?

I had the opportunity to listen to presidential historian Michael Beschloss speak last night about his recent book, Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989. As he spoke of the bravery of Presidents Washington, Lincoln, FDR and others, he paused and asked the group to reflect upon the current field of presidential candidates seeking election next year. 

Do these leaders, Beschloss asked, possess the intellect, courage and ability to guide the nation forward through these troubling times? How will history look back on a President Hillary Clinton, President Mitt Romney or President John Edwards? Should one of these politicians prevail in the race for the White House, will he or she have the mettle to heal a divided country and bring strength to the Oval Office? Or will the eventual winner foster a country that is divided on partisan lines and drive us further apart as an unpopular war in Iraq wages on?