The BBC ran a very entertaining and educational series a couple of years ago with a view to identifying the Greatest Briton of all time. You can check the show's website here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/program...tbritons.shtml
In an attempt to get away from the factional bickering on this board as the election draws nearer, I was wondering if people would be interested in a thread that discussed the Greatest American of all time. Chances are politicians will make up a high number of nominations, so I'm posting this thread on this board. However, don't let that stop you from suggesting industrialists, military men (or women), scientists etc.
Personally, I feel there shall be some easy choices for the top 5 at least. These will probably include
Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Edison
Ulysses S Grant
Dwight D Eisenhower
Thomas Jefferson
John F Kennedy
and so on.
My nomination is
Abraham Lincoln, probably the best President the US has ever had. The reasons should be obvious, but I shall list some of the more notable.
- He was a great leader during the countries most dangerous time.
- He was a politician who accepted he did not represent all Americans, but reached out to try to "save the Union."
- He alone (until US Grant) understood the gravity of the Civil War and what it would take to win it.
- He emancipated the slaves.
- He wrote some of the most moving, and still relevant, speeches in American political history.
- He was the master of the pithy remark.
Some interesting reading can be found at the following sites:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/al16.html (I find it surprising that Lynne Cheney's bio is linked off Lincoln's! But let's not get off topic)
http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/
http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln.html
http://members.aol.com/RVSNorton/Lincoln2.html
Who would you nominate and why? And if you disagree with my suggestion, please give reasons.
Here's hoping for a non-partisan, interesting thread in these stressful times...
Mr Mephisto