But an arrogant, irrepressible manner was the sort of leadership quality needed in those dark days, surely?
Indeed. Therefore let's be a little more realistic about our heroes and not simply wallow in blind worship. He was a not particularly pleasant man, by turns arrogant, obstreperous and egotistical, but who made use of those qualities to do things which lesser men didn't have a hope of doing. He was certainly not an angel, but he was remarkable.
QDM