To the Editor:

In “The Art of Gracious Leadership” (column, Aug. 26), David Brooks attacks Hillary Clinton’s honesty, graciousness and leadership capacity.

I have known Mrs. Clinton since 1974, when I was her student at the University of Arkansas School of Law. Even in the midst of Bill Clinton’s congressional campaign, she took time to help me with a scholarship essay and went out of her way to check on the well-being of a student in our class.

Later, as she became incredibly busy at the Rose Law Firm, she still took time to speak with me about running for office. The Clintons came to my wedding even though I was not someone with any power, and my stance on various issues at the time would not have been helpful to them.

And these are not isolated incidents. Some of our great presidents often showed great leadership without graciousness. And few have had to rule in a world with instant evaluation, often an attack or ridicule, on almost every decision. I believe that Mrs. Clinton has shown grace, far more than many of her male predecessors among presidential candidates.