gipper
Diamond Member
- Jan 8, 2011
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Agreed he had the character but he did not have the political savvy of Roosevelt. Just to be president, you must be smart, tough, and driven but to be a great president, you must have a clear vision, confidence to the point of arrogance, and the ability to manipulate people. Roosevelt had all this and more.Like Lincoln, FDR faced challenges not faced by Presidents before or since. Each rose to the challenge, and made this a better nation. Had Eisenhower had these kinds of challenges, I believe he had the character to also became one of the very great Presidents.
Eisenhower was pushed into the presidency. He had no desire to be president. Roosevelt on the hand was planning on being president when he enter politics.
IMHO, Roosevelt was seriously flawed as a person. He was not a dedicated husband, father, or friend. In person, he was often distant but in public he inspired confidence and loyalty. In his fireside chats, he came across as as a trusted friend but in reality he used those chats to manipulate public opinion.
What politician doesn't??
So then, FDR's manipulations of the American people are acceptable, in your mind. Is it acceptable because he was so much smarter than the American people and thus had to use manipulations (lies and misinformation) to force the American people to do what he wanted?