PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write

That question in that headline is on many minds these days as all of us are adjusting to an unpredictable and difficult-to-fathom reality: Donald Trump is the president-elect.

As president, will he be the same self-centered buffoon, misogynist and critic of all but himself that he was on the year-long campaign trail?

Or, will he come across as interpersonally skilled, humble, and compassionate as he done since his stunning election win, including in his victory speech, as well as on his visit with President Obama at the White House.

Only time will tell.

But, a foreboding thought is that Trump’s campaign style is so instinctive that he may not be able to contain himself when he comes under pressure in the Oval Office.

Witness these stark contrasts:

• On the campaign trail, he criticized his Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton in the strongest possible terms, even threatening to throw her in jail. But, in his victory speech, he lauded Clinton’s contributions, contending that she had worked very hard and deserved gratitude from the country.

• On the campaign trail, he continued to bring up the Obama “birther issue,” contending that the president should not have been allowed to serve in the nation’s highest political office because he was not born in the U.S. But, as he met Obama at the White House after his victory, Trump complimented the country’s current chief executive.

• On the campaign trail, he criticized Senator John McCain because he was captured during his service in the Vietnam War, and slammed the parents of the serviceman killed in Iraq. Yet, as he prepared his Transition, he made commitments to beef up America’s military might.

• On the campaign trail, he conducted himself as one who objectified women, in the worst sense of that phrase, including an incredible list of sexual conquests, about which he boasted. But, in victory, Trump was glad to count a number of women around the country as staunch supporters.

The best speech I heard Trump give in more than a year was the one to underline his victory. He complimented Clinton and appeared gracious and humble as he contemplated his rise to the top. I wish he could have come across as the same individual in the campaign, but, then, I guess, he would not have been able to capitalize on the anger and emotion resident in the U.S.

As the New York Times put in it a major piece on November 11:

“Mr. Trump’s trip (to the White House) was surreal for many Republicans and Democrats in Washington who never expected to see the real estate executive and reality television star in an Oval Office meeting to begin preparations to lead the most powerful nation in the world. Mr. Trump, whose campaign drew support from white supremacist groups, sat just in front of a bust of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Oval Office.”

My aspiration is the same as the Times wrote in an accompanying editorial.

“As a candidate, Mr. Trump could get away with ignoring racist and sexist abuse by his supporters (or, I add, by himself). But, as the president-elect, he has the moral duty to reject it in the most aggressive terms. There should be no space in American political discourse for violent or abusive behavior. In a little more than two months, Donald Trump will take charge of a country of more than 320 million people all races, ethnicities and religions. Every one of them deserves to live in safety, with dignity.”

Living in safety, with dignity, should be the hope of all Americans.