For me, I would have to say overwhelmingly Ben Franklin. Sure, he wasn't a President or anything, but he was a genius. He was inventive, with an inquisitive, questioning mind; He was very forward thinking, supporting outlawing slavery long before it became a truly national issue; An inventor and trailblazer; A thinker. I admire him greatly.
I'd have to put Washington second, as both a great military leader and a great President who shouldered a lot of responsibility and had the incredible pressure of being the FIRST President--The man who would set the tone most others would try to follow. It's hard to top the first guy at anything. Also, I admire his humility, the fact that he wasn't powerhungry; He didn't seek his position for power's sake, in fact, he would've been happier retiring to Mount Vernon but came into the arena for the sake of the country--A quality I think is lacking in many a politician today. Washington was a true servant of the public. Let's be frank, had Washington wanted, he could've become an American Octavian: A king in all but name who fooled the public with the illusion of a Republic. I'm sure many of the public, who were grateful to him, would've actually accepted that even then. I also love the fact that he was anti-parties--I actually kind of feel the same way. I think our parties divide us and put us into factions, and I'd love if a candidate could simply run on his/her beliefs, record and policies without cowtowing to a party line or being indebted to any party. I think parties have turned politics from a serious, important facet of our society into--for many, not for all--into a bloodsport, with people on the various sides cheering their teams.
After Washington for me comes Jefferson, who beyond being a great statesmen was, like Franklin, a great mind.
Originally Posted by noonwitch
