Very optimisic of you Blaster, I like it! I vote for Abraham Lincoln, who I assume will be such an obvious choice, thati'm going to give the runner up prize to Bill Clinton
Definitively Theodore Roosevelt! He brought Latin-America in the economic and military orbit of the US, got a firm hold of the strategic Panama Canal, expanded US possesions in the Pacific and reformed the US fleet into a global strike force (Great White Fleet). He has laid the bedrock for the American domination of the XXth century.
Would have thought Washington would take the top slot simply because with less framework to constrict him he was better placed to screw things up. Certainly his decision to quit after two terms seems to have set a precedent that represents one of the better points of the US system. (pity more politician don't push off after 8 years)
Washington and Lincoln are pretty close #1 and #2 to me. I give Abe the nod because he was working in an enviroment where people wanted the country to fail, Washington was operating in conditions where there was desire towork togehter.
Another vote for Teddy Roosevelt... he had the vision to create the National Parks System, preserving absolutely irreplaceable tracts of diverse natural resources. He also understood the need for federal protection of Waterfowl and various other wild-critters, creating a Federally managed National Refuge system. A hunter who was ahead of his time in understanding the vital role of conservation, and protection of our natural resources. Tim
