Not all business experience applies

Having executive-level managerial experience is essential for U.S. presidential candidates for these reasons:

1. The job of President is the senior executive of the U.S. federal government enterprise.
2. Managing a complex bureaucracy of systems and organizations requires proficiency and successful experience.
3. Special consideration is needed to ensure the alignment and transferability of experience to that of being Commander-in-Chief in a global environment.

My book, How to Select an American President by James A. George with James A. Rodger (c) 2017 Archway Publishing, describes how to evaluate candidate resumes.

I suggest that having commercial business enterprise experience is a positive attribute with specific concerns. First, the scope, scale, and complexity of the business model must be comparable to that of the federal government enterprise.

• They operate under the rule of law
• They are international or global enterprises
• The nature of the business is service-oriented and of moral quality and noble purpose
• They employ a diverse workforce reflective of the population
• They embrace triple bottom line accounting for economic, social, and environmental responsibility
• They demonstrate successful planning and financial management

Because of the federal government enterprise and work of the President is law-intensive, with unique collaboration and cooperation with a bipartisan Congress, it is essential that the presidential candidate possesses the intellect and behavioral qualities to perform in that environment.

Assessing Donald Trump, I appreciated his success as an individual entrepreneur and capitalist. Where he deviated from my standard is that his type of enterprise is more like a large family-owned business headed by an authoritarian executive. Much of the Trump business is a combination of commercial development, that is good. However, a lot is associated with the gambling and gaming industry that does not apply.

Trump's personal behavior has a legacy for all to have seen and evaluated. I did, and rejected him as a candidate.