To add to my former post, I don't even like to talk about the evil leaders this world has had!  But, if I had to choose who was the worst, it would have to be Adolf Hitler.  The attrocities he inflicted upon the Jewish race will forever be remembered throughout this earth's history.

To truly be an effective leader, a person should have high ethics, morals, and honor.  George Washington was such a person.  Even though he wasn't perfect, what he stood for and how he lived are sufficient to overlook any minor flaws in his character. 

People don't want to be forced to follow after and serve another man.  They look for characteristics in a leader that exemplify courage, honor, honesty, integrity, truthfulness, love of country, and service to all.  These are the truly great leaders!

The nefarious Adolf Hitler was certainly effective at one point in restoring the economy and the military might of Germany; his military build up, in fact, was a factor in restoring the economy.  Also, he created grand public works projects, took certain freedoms from employers and prevented machinery that would replace human workers. In 1937 government unemployment fell from 6 million to 1 million.

But, of course, in his meglomania, he also brought about the destruction of his country and the incurring of much hatred for his country with his violations of human rights.

I admire Bill Clinton, former president of the United States, and I don't personally want to bring his ethics into question, but like John F. Kennedy, Clinton is seen as a very good president (better than Kennedy) with some personal ethical flaws regarding faithfulness in marriage. 

The Monica Lewinski scandal was not honorable, even if it was largely politically manufactured and even if we say that it had nothing to do with Clinton's presidency. 

This depends on how you define an effective leader.  In a sense, Hitler and Stalin and Mao were effective leaders.  They got many things that they wanted done.  But they were not good or honorable or moral or ethical.  So you wouldn't really want to say effective leaders are good.