UNITED NATIONS (AP) — One leads the world's most powerful country. He ricocheted across the United Nations this week, talked about putting America first, sent several annoyed tweets and suddenly found himself under an impeachment-shaped cloud.

The other leads the land where common law was born. He delivered a manic U.N. speech on technology's pitfalls and possibilities, barely mentioned the existential political morass encircling him, then dashed off for a late-night flight home to deal with a court ruling that says he broke the law.

The appealing thing about democracy is that it gives people...