Speaking of caring about the troops, my roomate was a Camp David Presidential guard, so I know this is true. George Sr, as President, said, "Where can my family spend Christmas that requires the smallest security team and allows the maximum Christmas leave for the support people?". The Answer was "Camp David". George SR spent EVERY Chistmas there. Clinton, uh, not so much.
Then George "W" is elected, and there follows 8 YEARS of Christmas at Camp David.
I don't know many who knew that story as I knew it, but in my travels when I met someone who personnal knew and interacted with the President(s), I would sometimes tell that story. They ALL would literally shrug and say, "Yea, that's him...". Completely unsurprised and unpublished, just like "W"'s family's hospital visits and the Ft Hood support.
If I could only write a book on how to be a great President using examples I've seen and heard. The problem is, the great ones don't need it and the rest won't read it...