File 032735
Gordon Getty Memo on Presidential Fitness and Personality Disorders (File 032735)
Gordon Getty's memo discussing concerns about personality disorders in presidential leadership, specifically referencing psychopathy, sociopathy, and narcissism as fitness criteria for office.
Summary
Gordon Getty writes a memo expressing concern that the President may exhibit traits of psychopathy, sociopathy, malignant narcissism, or Machiavellian behavior, questioning fitness for office. Getty argues the issue transcends partisan politics and relates to fiduciary responsibility and lack of empathy. He proposes publishing a collection of papers exploring personality disorders in leadership, examining whether these psychological categories apply to the sitting President.
GORDON GETTY ON DONALD TRUMP
CALL TO ACTION
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Gruterites,
What prompted my first memo was a concern that we have a psychopath or sociopath or malignant narcissist or narcissist or Mach (Machiavellian) in the White House, whether or not those categories grade into a continuum. What might be the remedy? To start, someone should get the word out.
It isn’t about partisanship. The far left, with its ancient forbears such as Marius or Peisistratos, has shown equal menace or worse. It’s about fitness for office. The President is the world’s number one fiduciary. A fiduciary puts the trust first. Persons without empathy or remorse are not prudent choices.
By book, I mean a collection of papers along the lines of “Moral Markets.” A mass-market book would be even better if one of us is up for it and up to it.If I am right in fitting the president somewhere in the groups I listed, the nation faces a different and deeper crisis than many had thought. That clarifies the question and its urgency. We may or may not reach consensus on the answer. Each of us will decide separately, as always, on what is relevant and where logic leads. The overall theme might be something like “personality disorders in leadership.” There would be attention, but not exclusive attention, to which shoe if any fits the President.
GORDON GETTY