I need to write an essay on this topic and i need someone to write about. Any ideas.
2006-12-15 07:16:21 · 7 answers · asked by John B 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
FDR.
He ground down the rough edges of capitalism and every American benefits from it every day.
Whether you're unemployed and get unemployment insurance, or Warren Buffet and get fraud-free info on your stock investments, we all live better thanks to FDR.
And that's why Republicans hated him then, and still hate him today.
2006-12-15 09:29:56 · answer #1 · answered by bettysdad 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That question is impossible to answer. Influence is neither good nor bad. I'll skip the bad influences. I have chosen one single example for each president, of many that are available.
George Washington set the tone for this whole system, without his firm guidance we would have a monarchy in this country. He did reject that system and implemented this one. Can you imagine what our country would be like if we had established a royal line in this country?
Lincoln changed the lives and destinies of two races, for all time.
Truman, wow. His plate was full, he made the most difficult decisions that impacted the entire world. Would one decision mark him as the man who saved the world or the man who committed genocide? Remember, he did not know beforehand just how powerful these bombs were.
Franklin Roosevelt, social security, allowed our aging population to live out their lives with dignity in their homes with food to eat by guaranteeing the retired working class a monthly stipend for life, without which many of ourgrandparents would not have been able to attend or graduate college, have careers and homes and put our parents through college. Without this act our grandparents would have had to spend their money supporting their retired parents instead of sending our parent to college. And so on. Where would you be if your parents or grandparents hadn't gone to college or had been homeless after retiring?
Kennedy changed everything. He inspired an entire generation to get off their butts and do something to contribute to the world around them. He awoke a conscience in this country that has since fallen back asleep.
Nixon was singularly fabulous with international relations and pretty much opened the door to China for the whole world.
Jimmy Carter is still influencing the world, in ways that will be felt by generations.
Then there are the quieter presidencies, the ones who ushered into existence the legal systems, immigration systems, tax system, the health care systems, and all the other systems which govern our lives.
Every president is a major influence, forever. That is the power of the presidency, there is no one that stands out as the "most" anything.
Good question. No right answers, only opinions based on knowledge or the lack thereof.
2006-12-15 15:49:16 · answer #2 · answered by Liligirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will offer several candidates. My first choice would be George Washington for two simple reasons. 1. Without him there would not be a United States of which to be president. His leadership was absolutely crucial during the War of Independence. 2. ithout him there would not be a presidency. The very concept of a president who was not a monarch was unproven. His handling of the office set the standard and guidelines for all who followed.
My second choice would be Woodrow Wilson. I choose him because of his continuing impact on a global scale. His ideas of a League of Nations and of Wars without victors set the stage for all of the modern worlds attempts at nations working together as one human family. Unfortunately, Wilson was not very successful in his diplomatic efforts during his own time, and certainly his ideas have not come to fruition even today. Still he offers great hope for our future, and perhaps his greatness will be better realized in that day.
2006-12-15 15:24:49 · answer #3 · answered by James W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Abraham Lincoln without a doubt has been the most influential president. He saved the Union and freed the slaves which was the first big step toward the society we enjoy today.
2006-12-15 15:23:32 · answer #4 · answered by Gary B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
James Monroe. He enabled our Manifest Destiny and continued the Revolutionary spirit at a stage when it usually becomes perverted.
2006-12-15 17:18:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gerald Ford! He didn't do anything, but he provided the country with alot of comic relief after the Nixon years!
2006-12-15 15:25:26 · answer #6 · answered by cuban friend 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about Ronnie Reagan?
2006-12-15 15:20:37 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋