Ronald Reagan was known for the jar of jellybeans he kept on his desk in the oval office, offering them to dignitaries and other White House visitors.
"You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans," he would say, reading importance into whether a person would grab a handful or carefully select a favorite color.
Politicians often speak of the importance of character. Campaign speeches, testimonials, and press releases are full of references to a candidate’s moral stature.