To be sure, there are plenty of stories from the liberal-left that pull no punches: John Judis in a recent issue of the New Republic presents a reasoned dissection of the administration's failure to engage in the theatricality of populism, which FDR so ably did in similarly dire circumstances.

FORBES

That may be a by-product of his straight-talking nature and his supreme confidence, which mean he sees no need to pull punches or partake in false modesty.

BBC: Jonathan Miller complains of ageism in the arts