David Petraeus is the latest in a long line of risk-taking military and political leaders, said Frank Farley, a professor in Temple's College of Education. Americans, he said, are often willing to reluctantly accept private misdeeds from great leaders. "JFK and FDR remain in the 'top heroes' list despite everything we know about them," he said.  The American public seems to be "more interested in what [leaders] have done for the country" than judging them for their private sins.