There are few things as intellectually satisfying as discovering you’ve long been wrong about an issue or person. It can be a pleasant, eye-opening, refreshing experience, one that makes you want to explore and learn more. Anyway, something akin to this recently happened to Michael Dukakis after he began studying the life and accomplishments of Calvin Coolidge, the former president and fellow former governor of Massachusetts. The Globe’s Jeff Jacoby has the details.

Btw: Jeff lists public figures who he formerly only criticized but has since learned to respect for their positive qualities – such as George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey and Jimmy Carter. … I might come up with my own list, but I need to give it some more thought. Off hand, I’ve recently learned to respect the positive qualities of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, among others. As far as distant historic figures go, I can still recall my pleasant surprise at learning the truly great personal and military qualities of Ulysses S. Grant, who I formerly viewed in a highly negative way.