And, now the U.S. version of last weeks blog. The Bill 6 seems quite popular. The beauty of this kind of topic is that there’s lots of room for discussion. This week, I am looking at the greatest Presidents the U.S. never had. These are people who never sought the presidency. This means that persons that ran as their party nominee are disqualified (sorry Barry Goldwater and Al Gore). It also precludes people that ran for their party’s nomination and lost (sorry Ron Paul and Edmund Muskie). I’m also leaving out people that are young enough that they may still run in the future (sorry Hillary Clinton and John Kasich). Voters had the option of making them President (or will) and rejected them (or may still elect them). Here we go…
6. William Sherman – William Sherman was a successful Civil War general. He managed men. He led people. He was sought after by people on all sides to seek the presidency. He declined. “If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve”. He felt that he had done his part for God and country. His renouncing of there being any possibility of his running remains the measure of denials to this day. When asked, people are urged to give a “Sherman declaration” as their denial. Most refuse to be so adamant. Sherman gave his, and it was a loss to his nation.
5. Mario Cuomo – The New York governor said that the plane was on the runway ready to go to New Hampshire to file his papers, but, there was too much work to do at home. He staid out of the race. The voters of New York ended up defeating him their next chance. However, Cuomo represented something that politics was lacking. He was true to his convictions. He was an unabashed liberal when the term had become a dirty word. He didn’t care. He was who he was. He won…and lost being himself.
4. Colin Powell – Colin Powell rose through the ranks of the military to serve in the highest offices in the land. Many in the nation wanted him to seek the presidency. He declined. He held views that weren’t popular with many of the base of his party. He wouldn’t back away. He did back away from the race. He offended many in his party by endorsing Barack Obama over his own party nominee. He could have been the first African American President. Instead, he helped elect someone else to that position. For Barack Obama items CLICK HERE!
3. Martin Luther King – Dr. King never ran for office. He didn’t have too. He led women and men. He sought equality for all Americans. He sought it through peaceful means. He knew how to lead. He knew how to achieve his goals, and the goals of his followers without resorting to name calling or negativity. He was felled by an assassin’s bullet. Had he lived, he may have sought office. His death was a loss, not just to the people that he led, but, to all Americans.
2. Eleanor Roosevelt – Before there was Hillary Clinton, there was Eleanor Roosevelt. She was first lady to the longest serving President, Franklin. She demonstrated leadership in this capacity. After his passing, she showed strength. She continued to lead. She spoke out on the issues that were important to her. Her party asked her to run for various offices. She declined. She felt that she could make a greater contribution to the well being of her country from outside elected office. She made a great contribution. Whether it could have been greater, we’ll never know. For Franklin Roosevelt items CLICK HERE!
1. Benjamin Franklin – Franklin was a founding father that never sought to lead the nation that he was so instrumental in forming. He passed away while George Washington was still President, so, we’ll never know what aspirations he may have had for himself going forward. He was a diplomat. He was an inventor. He was a negotiator. He was a lover (just throwing that one in…really not relevant to being President). He was a true father in his nation. For George Washington items CLICK HERE!
What are your thoughts? Should any of these have been excluded? What other ones should have been added? Leave your comments below.