Has the USA survived and progressed because of who has been in the White House or in spite them?

Answer 1

Impossible to answer, really,

We have had several presidents who were truly great ( Washington, Lincoln, arguably FDR ) and several who were almost (Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and name your favorite - Truman in my lifetime, but a lot of people would take issue with that).

There are probably several others who had the seeds of greatness, but didn't face the crises that cause ordinary men to rise to that rare level of extraordinary excellence/achievement.

And for every one of the real dogs (Bush 2, Harding, Polk, Van Beuren) there are a pack of adequate executives, some of whom did good things or even notable things, but were either balanced by negatives or shot down by the circumstances that were handed to them (Johnson is perhaps the classic example).

If I had to pick a best, it would have to be Lincoln, who preserved the Union against almost impossible odds, in the process creating the conditions that would allow the nation to heal and grow after a bitter, horribly destructive Civil War. The effort killed him, figuratively and finally literally, but the Union survives because of him. Finally, I like him because he was as self-made a man and President as we have ever had, an excellent writer, and a very funny guy. In addition, there is no way that this ungainly man, born in poverty, self-educated, a homely country lawyer with a dreadful wife and a sqeaky speaking voice, could ever get elected in the age of TV and computers. This endears him to me all the more.

so, if I have to answer your question, I would say both ... because of, and in spite of

The hope is the peculiar genius of a democratic form of government. Over time it tends to balance itself, to correct wild swings that result from crises and reach a stable point. It remains to be seen whether we can do that under the current stresses. Winston Churchill said that democracy is a very poor form of government --- but it's better than any other form we have been able to come up with.

Answer 2

This has been a team effort with all branches of government contributing plus the efforts of local and state law enforcement officials and the public in general. It may not seem like it but all of us are part of checks and balance system that is unique to this nation. There are always bumps in the road that we must overcome but, for the most part, we all have the good of our country at heart from the President on down. We may not agree that a certain course of action is proper but the beauty of it all is we can question actions without fear of reprisal. In times of crisis we pull together for the common good. Trying to politically cripple an adversary in our own country in time of war or world crisis damages not only our ability to respond to terror but demeans our system of balance. If you would notice, most of the time there is very little difference in our response to world issues no matter who is in charge. The degree of that response and in what form are really the only issues. Strong and decisive leadership is always needed. Whether you agree or disagree with those decisions, we have more or less had that leadership for most of our history. The people decide. that is our most enduring strength.

Answer 3

I think Reagan had it right. That when gov't gets out of the way, the people do better. That includes the President.

I think the Presidents can do a great deal of harm with poor leadership or poor policies, but only a little bit of good.

Answer 4

Vox Populi Vox Deus

Answer 5

Depends on the situation. FDR and his advisors came up with some good solutions, so in that instance, it would be because of them. GWB and his advisors (whether you like it or not) have done damage to our relationships around the world, but America is not doing too bad. So, I guess it's both.

Answer 6

occasionally a leader takes a brave stand.
one might consider Truman, himself as racist as any missouran of his day, desegregating the military and getting civil right rolling right then and there...

but on the whole, politics isn't the heart of a nation, day to day people being that thing.

Poltics is a necessary function, often really quite an impediment to progress.

That's why we shouldn't entertain reactionary leaders... they really make it worse.

Answer 7

Like all nations and states, in spite of them...

Answer 8

In many respects, who is President does not matter much so it is a wash.