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In times of economic downturn, war, and environmental challenge – such as ours – we seek leaders who can present a vision for the direction that our nation might follow. But, in the minds of many Americans, today’s Republican Party is more committed to presenting a negative view of the ideas of others than working to craft a new direction for our country: more focused on what it’s against than what it’s for. It’s perceived by many as clinging to an outdated image of the past while lacking in new ideas. It also is seen by some as a champion of the elite - lacking in regard for the common person and anyone who dares to disagree with its agenda. It has become unclear what positive direction – if any – the Republicans want our country to move..

Although the Republican Party is no longer viewed by a majority of Americans to represent the principle of equality upon which our country was founded, its leaders once were champions of our most essential values and were able to inspire us as a nation. It is in decline because it has forsaken its founding principles and those of our nation, which leaves it in danger of irrelevance. But this would be tragic for our country because a democracy can only thrive where there is a vigorous debate – and ultimately compromise – among all major players about the route we should take to maintain our strength and prosperity.

Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President, worked tirelessly to build coalitions with leaders of divergent viewpoints - both within and outside of his party. Lincoln was guided by concern for the suffering of others and cared deeply about the fate of all Americans. In the Gettysburg Address, he even expressed his compassion toward the Confederate Army that was soon to be defeated: “With malice toward none, with charity toward all...” Lincoln demonstrated his genuine passion for justice and equality throughout his shortened presidency. Unfortunately, this would make him a poor fit in the Republican Party of today.

Theodore Roosevelt showed tremendous respect for nature and the environment, and had a strong aversion to corruption wherever he found it. He fought large monopolies to protect the interests of the American people. He regulated railroads as well as food and drugs, and called for national health insurance. His popularity was well-deserved, but the principle of holding large corporations responsible for their actions has long been abandoned by the Republican Party.

Dwight Eisenhower, although head of the allied forces in Europe during World War II, warned against the “military-industrial complex” in his farewell speech. He saw the danger of the military and large corporations gaining too much influence over how our country is run. He believed that democracy must serve the common good, rather than corporate interests. He was aware of the power of war for good or evil, and urged restraint – stating that war be used only as a last resort. He would be considered a radical in today’s Republican Party.

Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace, but in many ways exerted a positive influence on our country and the world. He saw the downside of industrial pollution and established the Environmental Protection Agency. He opened doors to China which had – until that time – been considered an inexorable enemy of the United States. There are few Republicans today who promote a vision of world cooperation as did Nixon.

Ronald Reagan, despite tough talk on cutting taxes and confronting “evil,” used diplomacy and concession in actual practice. He worked with members of both parties and raised taxes both in California and nationally to avoid the disintegration of government during recessions. He was a pragmatist in his actual dealing with the California legislature and Congress, as well as the Soviet Union with which he negotiated a nuclear arms deal. His willingness to negotiate on taxes and other matters of principle would make him out of place in today’s Republican Party.

What these presidents had in common was a vision of an America “conceived in liberty” – in the words of Lincoln – for all of its citizens, not just a few. A re-invigorated Republican Party would commit itself to this principle in action as well as in word. It would promote the “common welfare” as envisioned by our Constitution. Only by re-committing itself to the basic principles of our country‘s founding can the Republican Party resurrect genuine conservatism – which is a return to our real core values - as well as itself.

Respect for the individual, a strong and open dialogue, and an ability to resolve our differences to work toward a common cause are the principles that have made our country great. True conservatism thus is rooted in these essential beliefs that were the hallmark of our founding and the basis of our Constitution. These remain our guiding principles when our elected representatives work together in earnest to create laws that serve justice. But when our leaders serve only the needs of the interests that support them rather than the broader interests of the American people they lose their ability to lead effectively. Our primary allegiance must be to the values upon which our country was founded – rather than to a political ideology. Only those leaders who have the courage to base their actions on what best serves the bulk of the American people – rather than the dogma of their political party – will be worthy of inheriting the real legacy of our founders.

Today we have a different breed of Republicans who are not linked to the past and who disregard the history of their party – who are more committed to the politics of attack than the principle of reconciliation that they once understood as essential to making democracy work.