Greatest American? (All Over on Page Eight)

[Brother Shatterstone]

Yeah, I invite anyone to read, or watch the documentary, April 1865: The Month That Saved America and not reanalyze their pick. (Not saying your pick is wrong... People just don't realize how close America was to being the Union and the Confederacy permanently.)

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Yeah, I invite anyone to read, or watch the documentary, April 1865: The Month That Saved America and not reanalyze their pick. (Not saying your pick is wrong... People just don't realize how close America was to being the Union and the Confederacy permanently.)

I caught that documentary last month. Amazing. Really detailed and with tons of stuff, even if you know a good amount about the Civil War.

Despite that, though, I still had to go with Washington...but really, it was extremely hard to pick between Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln. and FDR(though Truman did handle the post-WWII stuff and deserves a bunch of credit for it, FDR handled the depression and WWII.)

 

[Captain Tagon]

I caught that documentary last month. Amazing. Really detailed and with tons of stuff, even if you know a good amount about the Civil War.

Despite that, though, I still had to go with Washington...but really, it was extremely hard to pick between Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln. and FDR(though Truman did handle the post-WWII stuff and deserves a bunch of credit for it, FDR handled the depression and WWII.)

See, based on my own looking into history, neither Jefferson or FDR should be remembered as great Presidents. Really, unemployment and such went up after most of FDR's reforms. What really brought us out of the depression was WWII. Jefferson on the other hand managed to weaken the American military to the point that the British conquered Washington during the War of 1812.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

See, based on my own looking into history, neither Jefferson or FDR should be remembered as great Presidents. Really, unemployment and such went up after most of FDR's reforms. What really brought us out of the depression was WWII. Jefferson on the other hand managed to weaken the American military to the point that the British conquered Washington during the War of 1812.

Well, that's why 'great' is a subjective term we can't all always agree on.

And, technically, FDR was trying to get the US into the war before Pearl Harbor happened. Though without that, it would have likely enraged the isolationist majority of the time...hard to say what would have happened, but FDR wasn't exactly sitting around while things happened.

 

[Captain Tagon]

Well, that's why 'great' is a subjective term we can't all always agree on.

And, technically, FDR was trying to get the US into the war before Pearl Harbor happened. Though without that, it would have likely enraged the isolationist majority of the time...hard to say what would have happened, but FDR wasn't exactly sitting around while things happened.

Yeah. I love these things. But they make me really hate the American school system. ::shrug::

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

And, technically, FDR was trying to get the US into the war before Pearl Harbor happened. Though without that, it would have likely enraged the isolationist majority of the time...hard to say what would have happened, but FDR wasn't exactly sitting around while things happened.

No, he was actively hopping that Japan would bomb us...

And WWII did pull us, and the rest of the world, out of the great depression and not the actions of FDR.

 

[Andre]

See, based on my own looking into history, neither Jefferson or FDR should be remembered as great Presidents. Really, unemployment and such went up after most of FDR's reforms. What really brought us out of the depression was WWII. Jefferson on the other hand managed to weaken the American military to the point that the British conquered Washington during the War of 1812.

Well, greatness can be defined in many ways, and certainly none of the choices is perfect. My picks, in order:

Washington - It's hard to overestimate the impact he had, not just in the US, but worldwide, when he chose voluntarily not to seek a third term. Until Washington, giving up power voluntarily just didn't happen. Just imagine the precedent that would have been set if he had died in office... Instead the precedent set was a peaceful transfer of power to an individual elected by the nation. Add in his critical role in winning the Revolutionary War and guiding the constitutional convention, it's difficult to find someone who was more indispensible in the formation of this country.

Lincoln - Saved the country that Washington did so much to give birth to. Lincoln was focused on saving the Union and did so, whatever the cost, both personal and national. A lesser president would have failed and the entire history of the world would have changed (for the worse, IMO).

Madison/Franklin/Hamilton/Jefferson - Toss up. Their collective role during the Revolutionary War, the Constitutional Convention, and the early history of the country was vital. I'd be inclined to give the edge to Jefferson for two reasons: he was smart enough to initiate the Louisiana Purchase (despite considerable doubts over its constitutionality) and his personal achievements as a scholar. But Franklin's achievements were considerable, Madison was indispensible in crafting the Constitution, and Hamilton was vital in setting the new nation on firm financial footing. I'm glad the US was fortunate enough to have them all when needed.

FDR - Successfully guided the country through the Depression and the Second World War. A deeply flawed individual, he succeeded where many would have failed.

 

[Dark Jezter]

No, he was actively hopping that Japan would bomb us...

Hopping in a wheelchair? That's impressive.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Hopping in a wheelchair? That's impressive.

I meant hoping but he wasn't sticky wheelchair bond... and that's far more impressive than one of my typos.

Nice recover huh?

 

[TanisFrey]

Thomas Jefferson. Without him, I wouldn't have my job.

That's just a little of what he did. Seriously, the man was amazing. His gravestone, which he designed to highlight the 3 things he felt were his most important acomplishments, says simply:
HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON
AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

Doesn't say anything about being governor of Virginia, secretary of state, vice president, or president. Those wern't the things he was proudest of.

Yes, he was not proud of his time in the Presidency. Let see one not put up yet. Ingonore the Law and enforce an enlegal treaty. He told the Supreme Court to inforce it own ruling about a treaty with an indian nation. The treaty clealy spelled that there was a politicly prosses for the indian nation to ratifey the treaty. The Inidian actualy sued the US over this and won then Jefferson enforced it anyway.

Washington on the other had the power of King and rejected it twice. There were some after the revolution that wanted to give it to him and he peacefully gave up the Presidency. King George the III of England was most suprised at Washington actions.

Also Washington keep the Revolutionary Army standing together for 3 years after the fighting to keep the British for reinvadeing after Yorktown. Why did he keep it together? The American alies led by France continuted to fight England for that time till the Treaty of Gent (I think that I am remembering the right treaty name).