Doing the right thing often involves doing the unpopular thing, historian and conservative commentator Victor Davis Hanson said yesterday at a Heritage Foundation event in Denver. And the American people are looking for this sort of leadership.

Looking back to the Civil War, World War II and even conflicts in antiquity for examples, Hanson explained that many of history’s great leaders had little regard for their reputations or personal fortunes.

Watch a video of his remarks below. Hanson’s remarks begin at minute 20.

Update: Listen to audio of the panel discussion that preceded Hanson’s remarks, featuring Heritage experts JD Foster, Alison Fraser, and Nina Owcharenko speaking on the topic of “Why Spending and Entitlement Reform is Vital.”