On Presidential Leadership and Moral Responsibility

The Council on Foreign Relations meeting, titled "Reckoning with History, Presidential Leadership, and Moral Responsibility," features a panel discussion with Jacob Weisberg, Meena Bose, David Scheffer, and Ruti Teitel, focusing on the concept of transitional justice and its application throughout American presidential history. Ruti Teitel, who coined the term transitional justice, discusses her book and how American presidents have dealt with periods of conflict and conflict resolution, from George Washington to Barack Obama. The panel explores the nuances of presidential apologies, the role of truth commissions, and the challenges of achieving justice while also promoting conflict resolution. They also discuss the importance of documentation and civil society in pursuing justice, as well as the values embedded in international law aimed at minimizing the impact of conflicts on civilian populations.