Reply #20: I remember when he was secretary of the Navy -

[haele]

Very pragmatic, would actually require evidence to come to his views or change them. His politics tended to be blunt and out in the open - and he did consider his troops when making a decision.
That would often have him seem conservative in many social opinions, mainly because good morale in the "Uniformed Services" often meant everyone had to at least have a similar goal and there were rules to all interactions to decrease the chances of conflict within the organization.
He probably will piss off many progressive groups over his term(s) in office at any particular moment - especially the many who strive for the perfect at cost to the good.

Haele