We don't have to know him personally to care about another patriot and human being. He may have wavered with his morality in addiction or had other moral failings like we all have at times, but I don't think he ever wavered in his patriotism and belief that this country was worth fighting to keep. You're a pretty sad human being if you can't muster up any compassion for the suffering of another human being. That's built into us and should be nurtured, And not just us, as humans. Studies of certain animals have shown that some of them also can show compassion, especially if they have previously suffered themselves.