James David Barber Born : July 31, 1930 Died : September 12, 2004 Browse All Authors Top 4 quotes by James David Barber [The American public demands] a sense of legitimacy from and in the presidency. There is more to this than dignity, more than propriety. The president is expected to personify our betterness in an inspiring way, to express in what he does and is, not just what he says, a moral idealism which, in much of the public mind, is the very opposite of politics. James David Barber president mind opposites Trying to make the presidency work these days is like trying to sew buttons on a custard pie. James David Barber buttons pie trying Ronald Reagan is the first modern President whose contempt for the facts is treated as a charming idiosyncrasy. James David Barber president facts firsts The Kennedy home was a place of much action and laughter, a lively, brawling mob of children overseen by a mother who knew when to look the other way. James David Barber laughter mother children