---
title: "Honesty is the Best Policy"
description: "Honesty leads the list of desired traits in a political leader."
date: "2008-09-29"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2008/09/29/honesty-is-the-best-policy/"
---

# Honesty is the Best Policy

Fully 52% of the public say it is “absolutely essential” that a political leader be honest and an additional 44% say it is a “very important” quality, making it the most sought after trait in political leaders. Women are more likely than men to say honesty is absolutely essential in a political leader (55% vs. 49%) and it is somewhat more valued by Republicans (59% say it is essential) than by Democrats (50%) or independents (52%). [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/932/men-or-women-whos-the-better-leader)