Sunday, October 31, 2010

As I mentioned yesterday, my fifth and sixth presidents would be Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt. I picked Wilson (president from March 4, 1913-March 4, 1021) because, to me, he was a champion of world peace and democracy and skillfully led our nation through World War I. He also led as a reformer who created the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission, as well as, enacting laws against child labor and exploitation. He said, in a speech before Congress, on April 2, 1917, that, "There is one choice we cannot make...we will not choose the path of submission...the world must be made safe for democracy," after Germany attacked us to begin World War I, and this truly was his guiding principle. For his efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1920. I chose Franklin D. Roosevelt (president from March 4, 1933-April 12, 1945) for equally impressive reasons. For example, in my opinion, his historic "New Deal" programs, such as the Civil Works Administration, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the Social Security Act, helped to end the Great Depression. Additionally, his courage and vision essentially led us through World War II. Indeed, to me, his wisdom and bravery can be surmised from the opening words of his first inaugural address when he said, "So first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing to fear is fear itself." Truly, he was a magnificent leader.

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