In this blog post, you will be making a recommendation about your president for inclusion or rejection from the new monument, which will include a larger scope of American history. Your task is not merely a reaction to the typical conventional wisdom of the great American presidents, but rather a researched report on why a president should be considered for this honor or rejected.
To do this, you will use the textbook discussion of presidential character and the article provided in class from political scientist and scholar Fred Greenstein. Your recommendation should include a somewhat comprehensive view of the president. In other words, do rely on one point; consider the many hats of the presidency and analyze your presidential choice as chief legislator, commander-in-chief, chief executive, head of state, chief of party, chief diplomat, and guardian of the economy. For each area you analyze, give the president an A through F grade to allow easier comparisons.
After all recommendations have been received by the Committee to Redefine Rushmore, members will vote and carving will begin.
I would like to propose that Richard Nixon not be a feature for the face of the new Mt. Rushmore, but I think that he was momentous enough that he should be featured in a smaller scale on the back of it.
ReplyDeleteNixon was a tough opponent in his day; he went from relative obscurity to the prominent figure of his party in almost no time at all. He won his seat in the House of Representatives, the bid for vice presidency, and only narrowly lost to Kennedy in the presidential race on ’60. He won election in ’68 and was reelected in ’72. During his time in office he enacted an Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty with the Soviet Union, and even bigger he opened up communications with China, which is becoming even more important as time passes.
After the presidency, Nixon continued his effort to further our country by lending himself as a statesman and a consultant and confidant to the presidents following him. He continued to play a viable role in the decision-making of our country.
However, even with all he did well, he is known by one phrase; ‘Watergate Scandal.’ Nixon had people break into the Democratic Committee Headquarters to get information on his opponent. He was caught on his own accord, because the tape recorders he had installed in the white house were what incriminated him. This whole series of events led to the first and only resignation thus far in American history (done to not face certain impeachment and conviction, because he was incredibly guilty).
Historians like to make him an example, sort of a “don’t be naughty or this is what will happen to you.” And so far, this example has worked. Over all I give good old Nixon a solid C-. He did some pretty good things, and then he made a pretty good scandal, but he is definitely not the worse there has ever been.
In closing I’d just like to end by saying, sure he isn’t the best, but he has been the butt of American Government jokes for years, and in this way I find it imperative that he be on the butt of our landmark as well.
First of all I’d like to point out that Thomas Jefferson already has several well known monuments made in his honor, including the original Mt. Rushmore. He definitely didn’t get there for doing nothing. Jefferson was a strong force way before he became president. In fact, he played an important role in the revolution and the organization of the new nation’s government. He was a strong advocate for breaking away from England and was spokesperson for those who were of the same thinking. Jefferson was a delegate to the Continental Congress and ended up heading a committee to write the Declaration of Independence. He spent much of the war itself in France as a Foreign Minister. When the war was won and Washington was unanimously elected as president, Jefferson served as his Secretary of State. Although he later resigned due to disagreements with Alexander Hamilton on many issues, Jefferson had a lot of influence on the nation’s first presidency. He then became Vice President to John Adams after placing second in the election. Jefferson still favored many of the things that he supported while Washington’s Secretary of State, including a strict interpretation of the Constitution. It was very important that there were people in power supporting this because it set a precedent and stopped the presidency from becoming too powerful of a position. In the election of 1800, Jefferson defeated Adams to become the third President of the United States. Right away, he made it one of his main concerns to repeal many of the actions that the Federalists made in order to needlessly strengthen the federal government. This included the Alien and Sedition Act, which allowed for the imprisonment of people who were criticizing the government. Jefferson argued (rightly) that this was a violation of the First Amendment. Despite this, and the many other changes that Jefferson made, his presidency was remarkably stable, which is exactly what the nation needed following two fairly bitter elections. Despite Jefferson’s advocacy of a strict interpretation of the Constitution, there were several things that he did that he wouldn’t have been able to do under his own standards, most of which were him doing what was best for the nation. One of them was dealing with the Barbary Pirates, who had been victimizing American merchants (successfully stealing goods and kidnapping sailors for ransom). Jefferson acted quickly and ordered the Commander to take military action to put an end to this. In doing this, he bypassed Congress. Congress probably would have authorized military action, but it would have taken too much time. When there were victims being taken daily, time was of the essence. Jefferson made the right decision and also set a precedent of quick presidential action in times of military crises. Although the situation was much more severe in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the actions of the two presidents are similar. It could be argued that Jefferson actions were a model that helped Kennedy to prevent nuclear war. Another thing that Jefferson did that didn’t really follow his own standards of interpretation was the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. This purchase doubled the size of the nation and allowed population growth. If Jefferson had turned down this offer, it may never have come around again. Imagine what our country would look like without the Louisiana Territory... During his second term, Jefferson did an excellent job of keeping the nation out of the rapidly growing European War. Despite the fact that both Britain and France were taking American ships and pressing sailors into service, Jefferson insisted on neutrality. He decided to ban trade with all European Nations, chiefly Britain and France. (See next post…)
ReplyDelete(Cont.) Another one of Jefferson’s good actions was convincing Congress to pass a law banning the further importation of slaves into the U.S. Although the law really wasn’t too effective and many slaves were smuggled in, it was the first monumental step toward abolishing slavery. Although Jefferson definitely could have handled some situations better than he did, Jefferson is still one of the best presidents that the U.S. has had. As one of the Founding Fathers, Jefferson played a significant role in the creation of the government. As a member of the new government, Jefferson stood up for the rights of the people and favored the strict interpretation of the Constitution. As President, he made many important decisions that had a hugely positive outcome on our nation. I believe that Jefferson is more than deserving of a solid “A” and the right to be on the new Mt. Rushmore.
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1bxbrPU2bnu92N0xIX22PLXNw8lUu96Ah6ZvV7PeNIAk/edit?hl=en&pli=1&authkey=CJDyltsG#
ReplyDelete^^ I hope that works. If it doesn't, someone should let me know so i can just paste it onto the blog. It was just super long so I thought this might be easier?
I recommend Franklin D. Roosevelt to be one of the presidents on our new Mt. Rushmore because of his amazing leadership and abilities to get our country out of the Great Depression. Roosevelt demonstrated most of the many hats of the presidents, and provided the leadership America needed.
ReplyDeleteRoosevelt was a good Chief of State because he really was the symbol of our nation at the time. People would look to him for leadership, and he gave many people hope and confidence that they needed. The famous “fireside chats” made the people of our country feel important because their leader was speaking to them. Roosevelt always had a positive attitude and that optimism gave people faith.
Roosevelt demonstrated his Chief executive power by taking charge right away and taking advantage of the power he had. Everything included in the New Deal shows his strong leadership. The New Deal also shows Roosevelt as a good Chief legislator. Congress quickly enacted the New Deal when Roosevelt first proposed it. Of course some people criticized it and blamed it for actually making the Great Depression worse. Some people also believed that he was acting too quickly and taking actions without thinking about it. However, I believe that given the situation our country was in at the time it was necessary to act immediately and try new ways of handling money and the bank.
Roosevelt was a good Chief diplomat because he believed that it was very important to the future of America to keep a good relationship with Russia. Also, he would send aid to Great Britain when England fell under siege in 1940. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Roosevelt was a good Commander in Chief because he directed organization of the nation’s armed forces and resources for global war.
As for Roosevelt as Chief citizen, I think during the Great Depression he represented the public well and tried his best to decrease the unemployment rate. However, after Pearl Harbor many question the camps that Americans of Japanese descent were sent. Many people today question as to if that was constitutional since they were all American citizens and had done no wrong. Roosevelt wasn’t really all for this; he had been pressured by state representatives to take action against those of Japanese descent living in the United States.
Since Roosevelt was the only president to serve more than two terms he was a good Chief of party because he kept his party in control of the executive branch for that long.
After Pearl Harbor Roosevelt spoke of the manner with his “Pearl Harbor Address” to the nation. This makes him a good Chief Mourner by addressing this sad and horrific attack.
Overall I give Franklin D. Roosevelt the highest grade of an A, because without his amazing leadership I don’t know how America would have come back from the Great Depression, and for that I think he deserves a spot on our new Mt. Rushmore.
Although many historians have viewed McKinley as someone who was controlled by his aides and was pressured by the press into war with Spain, modern historians have come to view him as a decisive president who put the United States on the map and laid the groundwork for a new American empire. As he has been given far less credit than he deserves, I propose that we add him to the new Mt Rushmore as a way of recognizing all that he has done for the United States.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, McKinley did a lot to prepare America to be a leading world power. After the Spanish attacked and sunk the USS Maine, he tried to prevent war by persuading the Spanish to adopt a conciliatory policy with the Cuban insurrectionists, whom the US had been concerned with since the beginning of McKinley’s term. McKinley, having served in the Civil war himself, wanted to avoid war if at all possible. Despite his best efforts, the popular demand in the US for intervention was too great and the Spanish reaction too slow for him to avoid war. America emerged from this war as a world power, as well as gaining the Hawaiian Islands, as well as helping to grant Cuba its independence. The precedent for American intervention started with McKinley. He started the trend of a strong presidency that was followed by Roosevelt and then Wilson. In the area of foreign policy, I would give him a solid A.
Another reason that McKinley would be a good candidate to have his head on the Platteville Mound’s Mt Rushmore is because of who he was as a person. He exhibited many good presidential characteristics. He was the last president we had who fought in the Civil War. According to an article on NNDB.com, he was promoted for uncommon bravery during the war. He was also a good speaker, an excellent lawyer, and a veteran in congress and state government. These qualities combined with his plans to make America a force in world trade were enough to get him elected over his rival, William Jennings Bryan. He won by the largest percent of popular vote since 1872, and he stuck true to what the people wanted. When the people called for war, he did not ignore them, although he was against it. As a presidential figurehead, he deserves another A.
Finally, we owe it to him to remember him as a good president because of the fact that he gave his life to doing his job. In 1901, not quite a year into his second term in office, he was assassinated by an anarchist. He died eight days after being shot. He gave everything to doing his job the best way he saw how. He expanded the power of the presidency and built the foundation for America to be a strong World power. He is often given too little credit because of the fact that he was followed by Teddy Roosevelt; however, he really was a committed president and a good person who tried to stick to what he thought was right.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kmgrbwwQIhX7sM8RwjfE_pjSyjln3VcEcqylaOdvIiM/edit?hl=en#
ReplyDeleteMr. John Fitzgerald Kennedy
I am going to try and be as blunt and concise as I can with this post (I don't want to bore anyone with a grocery list of obscure accomplishments, copy down list of unnecessary facts, or pretend to teach things that everybody already knows). Bill Clinton was one of the best presidents our country has ever been graced with. First of all, he defeated an incumbent president (George H.W. Bush) after Bush finished executing a successful military effort. That says a lot about the promise that he held as a candidate and the charisma he had as a person to be able to defeat a man with as much of a positive track record as Bush. He had the ability to work across the aisle so skillfully, that he was able to keep the GOP from criticizing a lot of his policies, while keeping the democrats firmly on his side. This led to better policy making as a whole, because the lack of partisanship (at least in practice, the tension between the two parties has still high) by the executive led to smarter ideas being put into practice as a result of the lack of the exclusion of ideas without proper reason. This has a direct correlation to the incredible economic success that Clinton experienced as a president. He entered his presidency during shaky economic times, made the system work so that we experienced one of the largest periods of economic growth in our history, and exited with a budget surplus (one example of how he went about doing this was by partially deregulating the banking industry late in his presidency-a republican philosophy-which allowed the banks to lend money more freely while still setting limits on what they could do to prevent predatory banking practices). Bill Clinton's was one of the smoothest talkers and best speakers that I personally have ever heard, there is no need for me to back this up just listen to guy talk, its freakin angelic. This allowed him to work with foreign nations and create policies in such a way that he was able to keep our country out of major conflict during his presidency, increase trade and communication with foreign nations, and even spark legitimate peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis (if he had some more time in office, that could have been the greatest opportunity for the two nations to strike a peace deal in the previous 52 years). Bill Clinton is also one of the most active and influential ex presidents in our nation's history. Barack Obama's presidency is so similar to Clinton's presidency that is almost looks as if the former was modeled after the latter. That is no coincidence, and neither is the fact that President Obama still consults personally with President Clinton. Yes, Bill Clinton's presidency was marred by one infamous incident with a white house intern, but none of us are without fault, and with his presidential record and number of groundbreaking successes he had as president, we should be able to put that incident aside and rank Bill Clinton amongst the greatest leaders this nation has ever had.
ReplyDeleteMany people only know that Woodrow Wilson was the president during the First World War, and that is it. We won the war and over time began to think that he was a great president. I disagree. I believe he should never be on any type of Mount Rushmore.
ReplyDeleteHe kept the US out of war in Europe for three years, but he sent troops into Latin America multiple times. He sent troops into Mexico during the Mexican Civil War even though neither side wanted him. Wilson was quoted as saying “The world must be made safe for democracy,” when he requested war on Germany from Congress, but in Haiti it was different story. First marines invaded the country and forced the legislation to elect the President we wanted. When Haiti did not go to war with Germany after we did we dissolved their legislation and created a new less democratic constitution. It passed with a laughable margin 98,225 to 768 in a referendum. He said one thing and did another.
(He also sent troops to Russia during their Civil War which fueled animosity between the countries)
When he was president many social reforms passed. That had more to do with Congress than him. He was president when women gained the right to vote, even though at first he detested and arrested suffragists. He eventually changed his thinking when he knew it was politically smart to be for sufferage. He also signed the Espionage Act and the Sedition Act both of which severely limited civil liberties during the war.
Wilson was also a white supremacist. While president at Princeton University, it was the only northern college that did not to accept blacks. He segregated the White House staff, and while president he commented on Birth of a Nation, a notoriously racist movie about reconstruction and the Ku Klux Klan. He said “My only regret is that it is all so true.” The movie portrayed the klan as white knights protecting whites from horrible black people during reconstruction. All of this reinforcement of white power helped lead to the growth of the klan and more racism in America.
As president he was also not able to work with Congress on the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty helped end World War I, but he could not get it passed because he was not going to make any concessions with Congress. He did not let members of the Republican Party go with him to make treaty, and he would not listen to any of their ideas, even though Republicans had a majority in the Senate. Wilson wanted it so that the League of Nations could enter the US troops into war with out consent of representatives in America. He would not even allow a restatement of the constitution saying that only elected representatives could enter the US into war. Wilson would not sign any thing with concessions, so he went on a speaking tour around the country trying to convince the public, but he had a stroke and that ended any chances that the treaty would be passed. The failure of the US to sign the treaty and enter the League of Nation helped lead to World War II.
Wilson failures with Congress, the people, and as a person made his presidency a poor one. I give him a D.
Sources: Lies My History Teacher Told Me, James W. Loewen, 2007 Edition
http://www.trivia-library.com/c/biography-of-us-president-woodrow-wilson-part- 7-cons.htm
President George W. Bush (2000-2008)
ReplyDeleteMany criticize the Bush Administration for some of their faults throughout the eight years they were in power. Some blame them for the war in Iraq. Others disapprove of the way they handled the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina. Still others see the “No Child Left Behind Act” degrading our schools. Some condemn their reform on Social Security. Others just look down on the $9 trillion deficit accumulated over the administration. Giving out tax-cuts didn’t make those economists feel any better.
However, the Bush Era was not a total failure. If President Bush favored one type of policymaking in particular, it would be the foreign/humanitarian aid. Few know of the aid given to the “nation of Africa” during the Bush years. In 2003 President Bush announced the largest international disease aid program in history. $15 billion were apportioned to fight AIDS. This money paid for medication that saved millions of lives in Africa. When an enormous tsunami struck the coast of the Indian Ocean, President Bush lead a $700 million fundraising effort and secured $950 million more from congress. He also designated a group of islands near Hawaii as a marine reserve, the largest in the world. He was applauded, even by environmentalists who later would complain about global climate change.
Bush might not have been the most popular president when leaving office, but after 9/11 he had the highest approval rating of any president in the history of the United States. The presidency becomes a much more difficult position once there is a national crisis and Bush had to deal with numerous ones at the same time. For a grade President Bush, his staff, and the rest of the administration get a “C” for effort.
Although John Adams is known to be an aloof, stubbornly independent federalist, with an elite republicanism view, who is criticized for signing the Alien and Sedition Acts, he really was a strong executive of the time. As our second president of the United States, John Adams had some big shoes to fill after the popularly chosen George Washington resided from the presidency after completing two terms in office. Prior to his presidency in 1797, Adams was involved in numerous committees, assemblies, appointments, and he was a prominent figure in many acts of legislation. John Adams was a very intelligent Harvard graduate who started his role as an active political philosopher right out of college with his admittance to the Massachusetts Bar in 1761. He made his voice heard on issues, such as activities against the Stamp Act, by publishing articles in newspapers. In 1977, Adams was elected to the Massachusetts Assembly. He later was chosen to represent at the First Continental Congress in 1775, nominated Washington to be commander-in-chief of the colonial armies, and in May 1776, offered a resolution that evolved into a declaration of independence. He was a strong supporter and advocate for the Declaration, signing the final document. Adams was engaged in numerous congressional committees, and was a very active member of Congress. In his lifetime, he served on ninety committees and chaired twenty- five during the second Continental Congress; one of which he was head of the Board of War and Ordinance, which oversaw the operations of the Continental army. Because of his active role in Congress, John Adams had a great impact on many policies and laws that were constructed in the early years of American governance. Congress appointed him Ambassador to France in 1776. Upon his return in 1779, he helped frame the Massachusetts’ state constitution, and was appointed Minister plenipotentiary to negotiate and form a peace and commercial treaty with Great Britain. Adams participated in the construction of the Treaty of Peace and signed it in 1783, ending the Revolutionary War, and in 1785 became the first U.S. minister to England. John Adams had a reputation of a fervent patriot and a strong advocate in the movement for independence. In 1789, he was elected vice president under George Washington. As a Federalist, Adams was elected president in 1796, beating Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic-Republicans. John Adams supported a strong central government with a powerful executive and a separation between the executive, judiciary, and legislative. Best known and appreciated for his domestic affairs and foreign policies, Adams had to deal with many problems that arose from the French Revolution. Because France had a misconception of Britain signing Jay’s Treaty with the United States, France retaliated by seizing American ships carrying British goods. Adams responded by trying to negotiate a settlement, and then asking Congress to appropriate funds for defensive measures. Congress drafted and passed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798 as a means to prevent close ties with France. (The Alien and Sedition Acts actually consisted of four laws, three of which were aimed at immigrants who tended to vote Democratic-Republican. Adams’ signing of these Acts caused much controversy and were protested in Fries’s Rebellion.) This action brought about the creation and growth of the Navy Department and Marine Corps, strengthening the national government and the powers of the presidency. These conflicts with France at sea were known as the Quasi- War crisis. Adams had no intention of declaring war and chose to peacefully negotiate with France; Napoleon finally signed the Treaty of Mortefontaine, ending the Quasi-War. The reelection campaign of 1800 proved to be difficult for Adams due to the deep split among the Federalist over his foreign policy, and the disapproval of his signing of the Alien and Sedition Acts.
ReplyDelete(part 2) John Adams had a stubborn independence that left his politically isolated and alienated his own cabinet. The Federalist Party fell apart after the Democratic-Republicans took control in 1801. He felt that the “rich, well-born, and able” should represent the nation, and that the executive was the sole official with the independence to act as he pleased. Although Adams’s signing of the Acts rubbed many people, especially the Democratic-Republicans, the wrong way, he never actually encouraged their passage nor personally implemented them. He also pardoned the leaders in Frieze’s Rebellion instead of using federal force. John Adams was a strong, active advocate for the growth in United States foreign policy and worked at achieving an honorable peace and avoiding unnecessary conflict during his presidential term. If Adams would have prolonged the naval war with France, it may have had a disastrous impact on the U.S. Before his presidency, he was a strong patriot in the push for independence. John Adams helped shape the government of this country by enforcing a strong national government with a powerful executive branch. He proved to be a very intelligent man who used reason and moral leadership. Adams also had a shelf of presidential hats; he acted as a fervent director of foreign policy (negotiations with Britain and France), commander in chief (settling the Quasi-War), and an influential chief executive (wanted a strong national government). I give John Adams a B+ and a spot on the new Mt. (but a smaller carving than some of the presidents). Although there were some flaws in his governance, you have to give the man a little break for being the second president. There was no definite set precedent on how the United States form of government was to be run. It was a new game in which Adams was testing the waters as to what the function of the executive branch was to be and the powers that it encompassed. The majority of Adams’s actions had a positive influence on the nation and helped in the growth of the country. He established a high role for the president and executed what he thought best for America at the time. Because of this, his face deserves to be displaced on Mr. Rushmore (but it’s understandable that the carving be proportionally smaller than say, George Washington or Lincoln).
ReplyDelete*Part 1 post: Skip over all the historical fluff if you know it. I just didnt know much about John Adams, so yeah. Basically he was involved in numerous congressional committees before becoming president and was a strong advocate for independence. (waaaaayy too much to read!)
ReplyDelete*Part 2 post: Analysis (probably what i was only supposed to write in the first place) :)sorry
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1kmgrbwwQIhX7sM8RwjfE_pjSyjln3VcEcqylaOdvIiM
ReplyDeleteMr. John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Jimmy Carter (1976-1980)
ReplyDeleteJimmy Carter has not been described as the ideal president. Main criticisms are his organizational system (circular; he was distracted be details and tried to too much on his own), his inability to use his presidential powers assertively, build public support, and become a “determined political operator.” Also, he was not “emotionally intelligent.” In other words, he was serious and introspective and was not as personable as Ronald Reagan, for example. Critics have argued that his disorganized, inefficient administration, along with his rigid personality and lack of direction, caused him to be seen as a failure and the main reason why Reagan won in 1980 (it’s been said that Reagan won simply because he was not Jimmy Carter). Basically, Jimmy Carter was not an effective executive, legislator, head of state, or chief of party. He faced recession and inflation, and his efforts did little to improve the economy.
However, I think Jimmy Carter should be on the monument for three reasons: his diplomatic accomplishments/foreign policy, devotion to the energy crisis, and his humanitarian work (both during and after his term in office). Jimmy Carter rejuvenated the peace process in the Middle East with the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, signed the SALT II nuclear arms reduction treaty with the Soviet Union, and gave the Panama Canal back to Panama. He handled the toxic waste in Love Canal (and many other such cases) better than any other president had responded to pollution up to that point. He installed solar panels in the White House and advocated energy conservation. He had a fireside chat about the energy crisis, and although it was awkward, because Carter wasn’t really a speaker, it showed his dedication to conservation.
The last and strongest argument for Jimmy Carter’s face on the monument is his humanitarian work. He strove to make government “competent and compassionate.” He has probably spent his post-presidential time more effectively than any other president yet: he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, established the Carter Center to advocate human rights and alleviate unnecessary human suffering. He has written 21 books and spoken out against the use torture in Guantanamo Bay and against the death penalty, and has continued to pursue peace between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.
As a president, Jimmy Carter probably doesn’t deserve more than a C. He was average at best, and his administration was plagued by economic problems, the Iran hostage crisis, and lack of cooperation (partly his own fault) in Washington.
More importantly, he was an active diplomat and showed political creativity in pursuing peaceful settlements all over the world. He also was one of the first to advocate conservation and the development of new, cleaner energy, and did a lot to clean up waste in the Love Canals beginning to appear all over the country as a result of industrial growth. Since he left office, he has continued humanitarian work both in the United States and abroad. As a person and a diplomat, I give him and A+.
Also, he was the fist president to be born in a hospital, and he was a peanut farmer from Georgia, which is awesome.
Obviously, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, deserves to be on our new Mount Rushmore. Many people know Abraham Lincoln as America’s greatest president, despite the fact that many others in that office had superior education and experience. His greatest contribution lay in preserving the Union during our civil war. In addition, he did many other important things and was a great person as well. He did not get the nickname “Honest Abe” for no reason. Lincoln was humorous, genuine and gave some of the most famous speeches in our nation’s history including his Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg’s Address.
ReplyDeleteLincoln clearly acted as a superb Commander in Chief during his presidency; he successfully led the north in the Civil War against the Confederacy. Although the war was unpopular among some, Lincoln knew that preserving the union was not going to be easy, but it must be done. He knew many people would have to sacrifice their lives for this goal, but he knew it was worthwhile and in the end, he even sacrificed his own for our freedom.
In war, he confronted an unprecedented crisis, and he responded by using powers which no President had ever used before. In expanding presidential powers in war, he used this power to impose a blockade, to disburse funds before appropriation by Congress and to suspend the writ of habeas corpus.
As Chief diplomat, Lincoln's approach was initially hands off, and he left most foreign affairs to his Secretary of State but was always present during the most important matters. Acting as Chief executive, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in territories not already under union control.
Although he did not seem the party’s front-runner at first, he got their support and he was elected president. As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization. Throughout his presidency, he redefined republican values. He ran for reelection and won in a landslide.
As Chief of legislation, Lincoln only vetoed four bills passed by Congress, and the only one of importance was the Wade-Davis bill. He signed acts such as Homestead Act, Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act and Pacific Railway Acts. Other important legislation he dealt with was involving tariffs and a new Federal income tax. In addition, during his time in office, the system of national banks by the National Banking and the Department of Agriculture were established.
Overall, it is clear that Lincoln deserves to be on our new Mt. Rushmore. He got us through our toughest time in history and is the reason will are still the country we are today. I would give him an A and argue that is might even be our greatest president of all time! :)
William Howard Taft
ReplyDeletei propose we put Taft on a new monument, seeing as not only was he a man of great bulk, but he was a great man of the law. Taft attended Yale, and then the Cincinnati Law School, after which he practiced law in Ohio. In 1982 he was appointed by president Harrison as a judge on the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Later in 1908 Teddy Roosevelt decided not to run for a third term and nominated Taft to run the republican ticket. Taft prosecutied trusts, helped strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission, established a postal savings bank and a parcel post system, expanded the civil service and sponsored the enactment of two amendments to the Constitution. the 16th Amendment authorized a federal income tax while the 17th Amendment mandated the direct election of senators by the people. He also signed legislation that created the United States Department of Labor. Then from 1921 to 1930 he served on the Supreme court as Chief Justice, allowing him to give the oath of office to following presidents, such as Coolidge and Hoover. He died in 1930 and is buried with his wife in Arlington National Cemetery.
http://www.classbrain.com/artbiographies/publish/william_taft.shtml
I think that president Obama should be one of the presidents that would be on the new Mount Rushmore. I think this because he has really changed what we think the president is. For one he is the first president to use the web to help advertise himself and get his name out to the public when he was running. He also is the first democrat that has had as much funding as he needed. Another thing that was a huge change at first is that he is the first black president. I think people has gotten used to it the longer he has been in office but at first it was a huge deal for the public. Another thing he did different is him having a vice president that was in closing running with him. Usually that doesnt happen because the president is scared of having less power. President Obama has been a president that has really changed a lot of things and thats why i feel he should be amount the great presidents.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Jackson, known as one of the most aggressive presidents of the United States, should be considered for engraving on Mount Rushmore. While some of his actions may have been considered by some to be a little absurd and outlandish, such as his supporters trashing the white house, many of Jackson's actions set the standard for his successors, some of which are still going on today. When one thinks of Jackson, they automatically think of his actions of leading the Native Americans on the Trail of Tears. While these actions were considered heinous, they were actions that tarnished the reputation of an otherwise successful presidency. One of the many legacies Jackson left in office was his successful leadership of a political party. The political party that he was a part of, the Democratic Party, had a distinct band of followers that Jackson was able to successfully lead. Jackson was the first president to lead the Democratic party and while there are many differences between then and now, the Democratic Party is still one of the most influential political parties today. Jackson's strength to influence people has made him one of the most powerful and influential presidents yet. While some presidents may be known for having only one label during their presidency, Jackson had many. He was a Commander in Chief in his leadership of the mass evicting of Native Americans. He was also considered a Chief of Party, as his actions in leading the Democratic Party has lead to one of the most successful political parties to date. In conclusion, Jackson should strongly be considered for inclusion on Mount Rushmore. Due to many of his actions, I believe that Andrew Jackson should be given a “B” when he is considered for being engraved on Mount Rushmore.
ReplyDeleteTheodore Roosevelt would be the best president to be on the new Mount Rushmore. Roosevelt's achievements as a naturalist, explorer, hunter, author, soldier, and president make him one of the most all-around leaders in the history of our government.
ReplyDeleteDuring his time in the White House from 1901 to 1909, he created 150 National Forests, the first 51 Federal Bird Reservations, 5 National Parks, the first 18 National Monuments, the first 4 National Game Preserves, and the first 21 Reclamation Projects. In total he provided federal protection for almost 230 million acres of U.S. soil.
Also during his tenure he established the Department of Commerce and Labor; he negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War and by doing so won the Nobel Peace Prize, the first by an American president; he reduced the National debt by over $90,000,000; and he began building the Panama Canal, just to name a few of his larger accomplishments.
Theodore Roosevelt set the precedent for the modern president. He helped the U.S. gain more power in foreign affairs and created a stronger federal government. Overall "Teddy" Roosevelt is the better choice to be on the new Mount Rushmore because of all of his impressive achievements in office both foreign and domestic politics.