Washington - for the simple fact that he willingly walked away from politics and back into private life.
He was a figure of few words, but when spoken, were to the point of the matter, and often striking the needed tone.
Lincoln is often rated higher than Washington, but that has more to do with the politically-correct leanings of academics who surround Lincoln with the slave issue - and indirectly hinder Washington with the same issue. Lincoln was a solid president at a time of great challenge, whose tragic death elevated him to greater heights (See: JFK)
The American 20th Century was most dominated by two presidents - FDR, and Ronald Reagan. FDR altered the trajectory of not only his political party, but also American's socio-economic platform. But unlike Washington, FDR was a man of great political ambition - if he could have been named king for life, he might very well have taken it. Their is a darkness to FDR - similar to that of Wilson, that surrounds him. This darkness was lessened greatly by the great challenges of his time - and again, his physical ailments make him that much more popular by liberal academics. Agree or disagree with him though, FDR remains among the most influential of all presidents.
As for Reagan, he shared FDR's outward sunny optimism - but unlike FDR, this optimism extended to the core of Reagan the man as well. Reagan did much to stem the onward push of FDR-like Big Government policy, if not so much in actual governmental change, then that of the American concience. Reagan was able to, in his own uniquely affable way, make the term liberal a word of scorn and rebuke - something that remains today - if to a somewhat lesser degree. And Reagan too was determined to defeat the great Soviet empire that initiated from the rubble of the FDR WWII era - and unlike those presidents before him, Reagan succeeded. He is the last great American president, and with each passing year, his status deservedly continues to rise among that most exclusive of political clubs...
He was a figure of few words, but when spoken, were to the point of the matter, and often striking the needed tone.
Lincoln is often rated higher than Washington, but that has more to do with the politically-correct leanings of academics who surround Lincoln with the slave issue - and indirectly hinder Washington with the same issue. Lincoln was a solid president at a time of great challenge, whose tragic death elevated him to greater heights (See: JFK)
The American 20th Century was most dominated by two presidents - FDR, and Ronald Reagan. FDR altered the trajectory of not only his political party, but also American's socio-economic platform. But unlike Washington, FDR was a man of great political ambition - if he could have been named king for life, he might very well have taken it. Their is a darkness to FDR - similar to that of Wilson, that surrounds him. This darkness was lessened greatly by the great challenges of his time - and again, his physical ailments make him that much more popular by liberal academics. Agree or disagree with him though, FDR remains among the most influential of all presidents.
As for Reagan, he shared FDR's outward sunny optimism - but unlike FDR, this optimism extended to the core of Reagan the man as well. Reagan did much to stem the onward push of FDR-like Big Government policy, if not so much in actual governmental change, then that of the American concience. Reagan was able to, in his own uniquely affable way, make the term liberal a word of scorn and rebuke - something that remains today - if to a somewhat lesser degree. And Reagan too was determined to defeat the great Soviet empire that initiated from the rubble of the FDR WWII era - and unlike those presidents before him, Reagan succeeded. He is the last great American president, and with each passing year, his status deservedly continues to rise among that most exclusive of political clubs...
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