“It is safer to try to understand the low in the light of the high than the high in the light of the low. In doing the latter one necessarily distorts the high, whereas in doing the former one does not deprive the low of the freedom to reveal itself as fully as what it is.” —Leo Strauss

It is safer to try to understand the current state of American politics in light of what has gone before—and, we trust, in light of what will come after—than to understand America’s past and future in light of the present moment. It’s safer to try to understand Donald Trump in light of the American political tradition than to view American politics reflected via the funhouse mirror of Trumpism. The American political tradition has never assumed that enlightened statesmen will always be at the helm. It has always understood that demagoguery is an inescapable feature of democracy, and that occasionally demagogues would prevail. Indeed, Americans know well that at many times and in many ways we have fallen grievously short of vindicating the capacity of mankind for self-government that is good government.