"Before long there will be heard throughout the planet a formidable cry, rising like the howling of innumerable dogs to the stars, asking for someone or something to take command." (Ortega y Gasset)

In 1974, TIME magazine published a 38-page special section on leadership after assembling a list of 200 young (45 or under) Americans who already were having a positive impact upon the American society and who might play pivotal roles in the American nation. Ironically in 1979 American perception felt the issue of leadership was more acute than ever as Jimmy Carter struggled to rally a nation troubled by recession, inflation and the energy shortage.

In his first 30 months of his presidency, motorists formed predawn gas lines, like clients at methadone clinics, to await the fuel that has been abruptly become precious. Americans could idle there and wonder if their houses would freeze in the winter, when the last heating oil guttered out of their tanks. They gave Jimmy Carter the second lowest rating of presidential approval in the history of American poll taking (ABC News-Louis Harris poll in mid June was 25% compared to Harry Truman 23% in the Gallop poll during the Korean War).