George Washington vs. Abraham Lincoln vs. Franklin D. Roosevelt

[Sir Mohamed]

Washington, Lincoln and (FD) Roosevelt are usually named the 3 best presidents in American history. Who among them do you like the most?

I think FDR is greatest titan among them. He led through 2 major crisis and his presidency still affects our lives today.

[K.W.R.A.E. 8647]

I go

Lincoln
FDR
Washington

[LBJer]

I voted for Lincoln.  Beyond the fact that the Civil War was the greatest crisis in the nation's history, he's the one I can relate to most on a personal level.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Washington is the Greatest American , Lincoln is the Greatest President.

[President Johnson]

Franklin Roosevelt. I think he's objectively the greatest president.

I'd rank him first, then Lincoln and then Washington.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Franklin Roosevelt. I think he's objectively the greatest president.

I'd rank him first, then Lincoln and then Washington.

Would you agree Washington is the greatest American though

[Sumner 1868]

[1] Lincoln
[2] FDR
[3] Washington

[dw93]

If asked as recently as 5 years ago I'd Say:

1. Washington
2. Lincoln
3. FDR


Now I'd have to say:

1. FDR
2. Lincoln
3. Washington

[Goldwater]

My ranking would probably go:

[1] Lincoln
[2] FDR
[3] Washington

[Pericles]

To simplify it-the first two saved America, FDR saved the world.

[LBJer]

To simplify it-the first two saved America, FDR saved the world.

The U.S. did not win WWII alone--the side it was on is called the "Allies" for a reason.

[Alben Barkley]

To simplify it-the first two saved America, FDR saved the world.

The U.S. did not win WWII alone--the side it was on is called the "Allies" for a reason.

British and Soviets couldn’t have won without Lend-Lease, they admitted as much.

[LBJer]

To simplify it-the first two saved America, FDR saved the world.

The U.S. did not win WWII alone--the side it was on is called the "Allies" for a reason.

British and Soviets couldn’t have won without Lend-Lease, they admitted as much.

And how likely is it the U.S. could have won all by itself?  Even if what you say is true, "The U.S. made a critical contribution" doesn't equal "No one else made a critical contribution, therefore the U.S. is entitled to take sole credit."

[SWE]

To simplify it-the first two saved America, FDR saved the world.

The U.S. did not win WWII alone--the side it was on is called the "Allies" for a reason.

British and Soviets couldn’t have won without Lend-Lease, they admitted as much.

And how likely is it the U.S. could have won all by itself?  Even if what you say is true, "The U.S. made a critical contribution" doesn't equal "No one else made a critical contribution, therefore the U.S. is entitled to take sole credit."

Nobody has suggested the U.S. is entitled to take sole credit?

[LBJer]

To simplify it-the first two saved America, FDR saved the world.

The U.S. did not win WWII alone--the side it was on is called the "Allies" for a reason.

British and Soviets couldn’t have won without Lend-Lease, they admitted as much.

And how likely is it the U.S. could have won all by itself?  Even if what you say is true, "The U.S. made a critical contribution" doesn't equal "No one else made a critical contribution, therefore the U.S. is entitled to take sole credit."

Nobody has suggested the U.S. is entitled to take sole credit?

When someone says "FDR saved the world," it sounds like they're saying the U.S. singlehandedly won WWII.

[SWE]

To simplify it-the first two saved America, FDR saved the world.

The U.S. did not win WWII alone--the side it was on is called the "Allies" for a reason.

British and Soviets couldn’t have won without Lend-Lease, they admitted as much.

And how likely is it the U.S. could have won all by itself?  Even if what you say is true, "The U.S. made a critical contribution" doesn't equal "No one else made a critical contribution, therefore the U.S. is entitled to take sole credit."

Nobody has suggested the U.S. is entitled to take sole credit?

When someone says "FDR saved the world," it sounds like they're saying the U.S. singlehandedly won WWII.

I don't think that implies that at all. If someone carried your body out of a burning building and brought you to EMTs who provided life saving care, I don't think saying "that guy saved my life" is an unfair thing to say or implies that the EMTs did nothing.

[LBJer]

To simplify it-the first two saved America, FDR saved the world.

The U.S. did not win WWII alone--the side it was on is called the "Allies" for a reason.

British and Soviets couldn’t have won without Lend-Lease, they admitted as much.

And how likely is it the U.S. could have won all by itself?  Even if what you say is true, "The U.S. made a critical contribution" doesn't equal "No one else made a critical contribution, therefore the U.S. is entitled to take sole credit."

Nobody has suggested the U.S. is entitled to take sole credit?

When someone says "FDR saved the world," it sounds like they're saying the U.S. singlehandedly won WWII.

I don't think that implies that at all. If someone carried your body out of a burning building and brought you to EMTs who provided life saving care, I don't think saying "that guy saved my life" is an unfair thing to say or implies that the EMTs did nothing.

I see what you're saying, but it's a problematic analogy because crediting one person with saving your life when others were critical as well doesn't have political/nationalistic implications like only mentioning one country when discussing a victory that other countries made crucial contributions to. It's also problematic because EMTs will be presumed to have "provided life saving care"--that's their job, after all.  Their contribution to saving the person's life won't be weighed against that of the man that carried the person out of the building the way different nations' roles in winning a war will be compared against each other.

[President Johnson]

Franklin Roosevelt. I think he's objectively the greatest president.

I'd rank him first, then Lincoln and then Washington.

Would you agree Washington is the greatest American though

Ironically, I'd give that title to Lincoln.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Franklin Roosevelt. I think he's objectively the greatest president.

I'd rank him first, then Lincoln and then Washington.

Would you agree Washington is the greatest American though

Ironically, I'd give that title to Lincoln.

I would have to say its Washington given the country would not have existed without Washington , the fact he rejected being a King when almost any other person would have was huge for the advent of democracy.

Remember most revolutions usually result in one type of dictator replacing another so not only is Washington responsible for the country existing but he was the reason why the American revolution did not become like most other revolutions. So for that reason, I have to say Washington is the Greatest American 

[インターネット掲示板ユーザー Punxsutawney Phil]

Washington, easily.

[dw93]

To simplify it-the first two saved America, FDR saved the world.

This is ultimately why I see FDR as the greatest now. People also don't realize how easily the U.S. could've fallen to Communism, or worse Fascism in the 1930s, and it was Roosevelt's leadership that kept either from happening, so in that sense I'd also argue he too saved the America.

[Mr. Smith]

FDR -> Washington -> Lincoln.