OT: Who's Your President?
If you could be any U.S. President throughout our country's history, who would it be?
Personally, I would want to be Teddy Roosevelt. Loved and respected the outdoors, was a true hard-ass as President, overcame many physical obstacles to reach the pinnacle of success, enjoyed a distinguished military career, trust-buster, etc.
After his presidential career was over he even went on an expedition to map uncharted parts of the Amazon River system. A real interesting guy.
(Note: try not to just say Gerald Ford because he played football at Michigan)
August 28th, 2009 at 2:58 PM ^
Andrew Jackson was a bro (unless you were a native). But in the end, democracy just isn't the answer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton
August 28th, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^
Long live the protector of Mexico!
May the light His Imperial Majesty bestowed upon us forever burn brightly.
(Also, don't call it "Frisco.")
August 28th, 2009 at 7:24 PM ^
Ford. Because that would mean I also played football at UM.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:17 PM ^
Gotta be GW. The man was so universally loved that he never had to campaign and faced no real opposition in his two elections. And as the first President, he was pretty much free to do what he wanted, unconstrained by precedent or public opinion (he conveniently invented the custom of "executive privilege" when it suited him). Unlike almost everyone else to hold the office, he stepped down as beloved as he had been when he arrived.
Only downside: no White House to live in.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
He had
- Good wealth and a plantation resulting in a comfortable, prosperous life
- Was indispensable to the revolutionary war effort; many have raised doubts whether the war would have been won without him and his understanding (at least after NY) of the nature of the revolution and the importance not in winning battles, but keeping his army in the field.
- Presided over the constitutional convention of 1787
- Served with other giants (both in war and administration) whose importance at the time paled in comparison to his (Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Hamilton, etc). As far as fame, the only peer he really had as a contemporary was Franklin.
- When he left power King George remarked that Washington was "the greatest man in the world." Washington truly saw himself (and acted accordingly) as a present-day Cincinnatus.
- Exceeded all of his contemporaries (esp. Jefferson) by at least freeing his slaves upon his death. Washington didn't formulate the ideals that modeled this country, but he was the actual embodiment of them. This country was exceedingly fortunate that its first president was also arguably its greatest and most honorable.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:38 PM ^
Hands down, Martin Van Buren. He's the man I most admire. Easily the meanest, baddest mutha of a President that ever lived.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:13 PM ^
What makes Van Buren so fascinating is that, for much of his early life, he spoke Dutch as his native language.