Why Washington will always be America's greatest President. After he was elected and served two terms, he voluntarily decided not to run for re-election. Many people wanted him to run again and some even wanted to make him king. He voluntarily chose not to be coronated or to increase his power. How many other people would have had the honor and dignity to do the same?
In all communist countries, the "revolutionaries" had their opponenets killed off. Recently in Russia, Putin has been silencing opposition and dissent on his way to becoming a President for Life. Robert Mugabe won Zimbabwe's first full election in 1980, but has remanied there since, while killing off his opponents. France has gone through...how many Republics?
Washington's quote: "Guard against the imposters of pretended patriotism" is as relevant in the 1790s as it is in 2005.
Lincoln will always be #2, as he saved the Union. The thing about Lincoln is that he was hated when he was in office by many. The press constantly wrote bad things about him. Against screaming opposition, he did what he felt was right and now has people thanking him for it 150 years later. Many others wouldn't have been up to the task. Presidents that cater to wavering public opinion cannot be respected as great.
The man so worried about his "legacy," Bill Clinton will go down in history as scandal ridden and mediocre at best. Papa Bush fared no better. GW Bush, well, we'll see in 10 years.
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