“No American politician in the Progressive Era had more loyal friends or more dedicated enemies. But it would have been difficult for Bryan to retain the former if he had found a way to mollify the latter.” – Michael Kazin, A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan p. 297
William Jennings Bryan, The Great Commoner, was the leader for the Democratic Party from the late 19th century into the early 20th century. He ran and lost the race for the Presidency 3 times on the Democratic ticket. He was one of the most popular orators of all time, rising to fame speaking out for a sense of liberalism that would cause the government to help out the people. Ever the evangelist, he stuck to his personal beliefs in the face of opposition and blatant disregard.
Although he is perhaps best known for his failure to gain the Presidency and his weakened attempt to keep evolution out of the public school system, Bryan is a classic case of polarization. His many admirers considered him to be a prophet-type, the one man able to lead the United States to its rightful position. His opponents considered him to be out of touch with reality and shallow in his political thought. Truth be told, he is most likely to be considered somewhere in between.
The truth we find in a leader like Bryan, is that leadership is polarizing. It is impossible to please everybody, and certainly not worth our time trying to do so. Strong leaders must recognize a vision and work hard towards accomplishing it. The goal is not to please people but to lead people. Clinging to your vision and making independent decisions will always develop dedicated enemies. But in the end, leadership is making the right choice not the popular one.