"America the Beautiful" - The U.S. on its 250th Birthday
4 days ago
4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
One was a wanderlust and failed general, another was a failed businessman, who tried his hand at politics and lost in every national election he entered but one, and the third was an aristocrat who married his second cousin.
From this unlikely trio emerged our three greatest presidents. Such is the genius of the American dream on its 250th anniversary. If your dreams and your ideals match those of the American people, and if you work very hard, then you too can be elected president.
According to presidential historians, our three greatest presidents are: GEORGE WASHINGTON, ABRAHAM LINCOLN and FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT. What they had in common was each was married to an unusually bright, strong independent woman, who shared his vision for America, (thus lending credence to the old axiom that behind every great man you'll find an equally great woman.)
As presidents they shared the belief that the American people, if left alone, could always be counted as good citizens, to support freedom and democracy.
Martha Washington worked tirelessly behind the sidelines in support of her husband, in army camps darning socks and sewing on buttons. After the war, she campaigned tirelessly for soldiers' pensions.
Mary Todd Lincoln shared her husband's quest to end chattel slavery in America. During the Civil War, she made it her duty to visit Army hospitals to cheer the wounded. As outspoken as her strong-minded husband, she has been viewed as shrewish and trouble-some, and as an embarrassment to her husband, which she often was, but nonetheless, Lincoln absolutely adored her.
Without Eleanor Roosevelt, it's likely Franklin would never have been elected president, especially after he contracted polio in his mid-twenties. But she pushed him relentlessly to get out of bed, pursue treatment, physical therapy, and get back out on the campaign trail. Ever the cheerful optimist, Franklin did as told, ran for president, and won. Eleanor proved to be as effective a campaigner as her husband, who delivered the women's vote and the African American vote, without which her husband might have lost the 1932 election. FDR would win again in 1936, 1940, and 1944, due to his unprecedented popularity. As president, he led the nation out of its worst depression ever. As an encore, he rallied the allies to victory in Europe, defeating Nazi Germany, and, alone, in the Pacific theater against Japan.
Having made partners with American manufactures, to create an endless supply of war material: battle ships, fighter airplanes, guns and ammunition (while making these captains of industry filthy rich), he then persuaded them to allow for collective bargaining in their plants, that would include worker pensions, paid holidays, medical benefits, and the five-day workweek. Eventually, the government would finance college education for war veterans, with the G.I. Bill, as well as Social Security.
What made Washington, Lincoln and FDR great leaders was their honesty, vision, and integrity. Washington would not allow his generals to make him king, which had been the fate of every republic since time immemorial. Lincoln would not compromise his position on slavery, even though it might cost him the 1864 election. FDR had the unusual gift of making supporters of his enemies. All three led by example and brought out the best in people. In turn, people trusted them, without knowing why.
George Washington held the fragile republic together while it nearly became unraveled on a weekly basis.
For the first three years of the Cvil War, Abraham Lincoln managed to keep the American North united despite losing every major battle. Had General Ulysses Grant not won the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863, the South likely would have prevailed. "But the man is a drunk," his aids told Lincoln. "Find out what he's drinking, and give it to our other generals," he reportedly said.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt managed to create the most powerful fighting force the world had ever seen, from a war-weary nation, that, after World War I, had no appetite for another foreign war.
All three presidents were religious men, who kept their beliefs private. Each composed great speeches that would point the nation in a promising new direction: Washington's Farewell Address (a primer on why future administrations should avoid foreign wars); Lincoln's Gettysburg's Address (summarizing how much the Civil War had changed American Society); FDR's Four Freedom's Speech (Freedom of speech & expression; Freedom from fear; Freedom of worship; & Freedom from lack of food & housing). Delivered in Congress, FDR made it clear that such lacks were the root causes of war.
Perhaps nothing is more American than our iconic "Pledge of Allegiance", which goes: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Two other unique American symbols are The Statue of Liberty, and our Founding Document, "The Declaration of Independence", with its clarion call that "all men are created equal".
America may not be perfect, but it has a remarkable capacity for self-correction, guided by ideals that attract the world to our door step.
We are a nation of immigrants. For the most part immigrants have made America stronger, smarter and freer. A generation of immigrant-engineers have revolutionized teaching in our schools, universities, and businesses, speeding up development of our technologies: rocket sciences, automobiles, and household appliances, and the arts and music. It was an immigrant Jew from Russia who composed three of our most beloved songs: "White Christmas", "Easter Parade" and "God Bless America"
. I'm speaking of Irving Berlin, of course. In fact, what better place to end on the Fourth of July but the with lyrics of a Irving Berlin classic:
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, Let us swear allgiance to a land that's free,
Okay, all you would-be abolitionists out there, here's a book for you. The book makes clear that slavery in the US was dealt a serious death blow when John Quincy Adams (not widely known as an aboliti
I've read countless books about George Washington, but this one is different. The author is a well-read historian, with a passion for the sea, and for travel. Indeed, his book is about Washington's
Comments