Senator Mitt Romney on Formative Moments, Presidential Leadership, and the Question of Legacy episode artwork

EPISODE · May 8, 2026 · 30 MIN

Senator Mitt Romney on Formative Moments, Presidential Leadership, and the Question of Legacy

from Good Citizen · host Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library

What allows a politician to hold to his principles when almost every incentive pulls the other way? In this memorable conversation with Ted, Senator Mitt Romney traces the formative moments with his father that shaped his moral compass, and the specific ways he guards against self-rationalization. Senator Romney also speaks to the outsized power of presidential leadership, and why his legacy won’t rest on any single vote he cast. Plus, he offers a surprisingly simple framework for rediscovering the values most Americans already share. For more, visit goodcitizenpodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook @TRPresidentialLibrary Instagram @trlibrary X @TRPresLibrary. And sign up for our newsletter at trlibrary.com/newsletter to stay up-to-date on the TRPL! -- Good Citizen is hosted by Ted Roosevelt V and produced by The Future of StoryTelling in collaboration with Charts & Leisure, on behalf of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. Learn more about T.R.’s upcoming presidential library at www.trlibrary.com.  Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation 350 Third Avenue Medora, North Dakota 58645   Future of StoryTelling Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher Director, Carolyn Merriman Producer, Alison Byrne  Assistant Producer, Madison Brown Production Assistant, Tsuki Carlson   Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Leah von Schaumburg, Liz Johnson, Edward F. O’Keefe, Robbie Lauf, Courtland Miller, and Matt Briney. 

What allows a politician to hold to his principles when almost every incentive pulls the other way? In this memorable conversation with Ted, Senator Mitt Romney traces the formative moments with his father that shaped his moral compass, and the specific ways he guards against self-rationalization. Senator Romney also speaks to the outsized power of presidential leadership, and why his legacy won’t rest on any single vote he cast. Plus, he offers a surprisingly simple framework for rediscovering the values most Americans already share.

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Senator Mitt Romney on Formative Moments, Presidential Leadership, and the Question of Legacy

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This episode was published on May 8, 2026.

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What allows a politician to hold to his principles when almost every incentive pulls the other way? In this memorable conversation with Ted, Senator Mitt Romney traces the formative moments with his father that shaped his moral compass, and the...

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