Can this generation of young people understand that past presidents have been, well, noble and decent leaders?

Question

Between Clinton and Bush, and, the harshness of political discourse typical now in broadcasting on radio and TV, I think America's young people are at a loss to experience greatness, and, this is somewhat sad, unfortunate, for America...

I think of IKe, who won an unwinnable war, JFK whose speaches could give rise to admiration and a sense of inspiration, FDR whose resolute belief in bettering the nation gave relief and hope to tens of millions, and, of course, men from past era's that actually BELIEVED in something greater than themselves...

Answer 1

They weren't expected to be saints and most of them weren't.
Now poor Ike would have been exposed for his mistress as would FDR. One early twentieth century president had an illegitimate daughter. And we now have DNA evidence of other sexual peccadillos on the part of the earlier and most famous ones. In truth president are men with the same problems most men have, a man can be great and inspiring and run a war or a country well and with ability, and still falter in morality.
What todays youth don't understand is that you can disagree without smearing, you can dislike without demeaning, and you don't have to use slander to get your point across.
There used to be an evident behavior of politeness in DC, even between political rivals. Now its a no mans land.

Answer 2

you are just the kind of people the government can control and brainwash.there has never been any president past or future that won;t do some wrong on his watch.you are saying what you were taught.never believe everything the government tells you.it;s just that they tend to hide what they did from the public.some just do a better job about it then others.but they all have something in the closet.Kennedy with the ladies,Nixon with water gate,Jefferson with a slave,Johnson with Viet Nam.Reagan with contras arm deals.bush with the Iraq war,and the list goes on and on.so the presidents of past have not been noble or decent leaders as you proclaim they were.you need to do more research into this matter.because you are way off from the truth.

Answer 3

It's difficult to persuade them otherwise. Here in my country (Britain) many under the age of 18 are questioning why we have the so-called "special relationship" with the US since to them an American President is elected on the basis of how much money they have and how they can help out their friends when in power - not on the policies they stand for.

This generation are extremely mistrustful of the US as they are of elements in Europe. This never used to be the case.

Answer 4

Every President has had his blemishes.

Ike, aside from being called lazy, had a girlfriend when he was in London during the war (one of the worst kept secrets of WWII). Kennedy consistantly carried on extra-marital affairs, including a famous one with marilyn Monroe. Even FDR had a mistress (he was with her when he died) and there's even more. Truman was a part of the Kansas City political machine who's boss went to prison for corruption. Name a President and history will name a scandal.

Answer 5

Carter was a poor leader, but an honest man.

Reagan was a criminal who sold illegal arms to Iran AND protected Saddam Hussein from UN resolutions.

Nixon was a flat out liar who got away with breaking the law.

Ford awarded Nixon's crimes with a full pardon. Other than that I do not know much about Ford's policies.

Clinton committed perjury and several counts of adultery against his marriage.

Bush 2 lied to invade a country and commuted the sentence of Scooter Libby who protected the VP that exposed a CIA agent out of spite.

==> With the above stated FACTS, young people have every right to question the morals and ethics of those who have been placed in office. <==

Answer 6

Thankful for the mess they are in. Dreading the time they may be sent out to fight and die in a strange country like N. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, for some corporation's interests ? C'mon. you patriot.

Answer 7

I couldn't agree more! The media has taken the role of dictating to America what standards we should embrace and who we should vote for. They have forgotten that their job is to report the news not to direct the country.

Answer 8

Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Bush demonstrate that the Executive Branch has sadly become a nexus of corruption and sleaze.

Young people need to understand that it was once different, and maybe they can change it back to the way it once was.

Answer 9

I understand that. I'm 18 but know that there are decent leaders with good intentions in their actions.

Answer 10

i bet they were just as bad in the past, but between people having an attitude that presidents were gods and it was taboo to crticize your leader and not having cameras in their faces every second to document their every move, history forgot their blunders.