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Hoping for the Best of Us

One of the great American ideals is that our president should represent the very best of us. That he, or she, though flawed, should be better than the median American. We expect them to be noble, brave, and true (and a war hero if possible). George Washington got us into this mess, because he was just that kind of man; as for the rest of them, very few have measured up. Yet, we can’t seem to let go of this ideal, or maybe I can’t.

To me, an assessment of any president of the United States comes down to four things: wisdom, integrity, leadership, and communication. Who rates a four-for-four in the annals of history?

Presumably George Washington would get top marks, though the emphasis on national communication for his era is slight and he made few of these appearances, he does seems to have been effective within the expectations of his era. Abraham Lincoln would also appear to be top notch in all four areas—with his keen foresight on the issues at the heart of our nation’s distress, his knowledge of when to push (even fire) his military leaders, the ability to work closely with many of differing opinions, and his remarkable speech-writing abilities.

To this list I would add only Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. Roosevelt didn’t always make the right decision, but he was years ahead of his time on many ideas and effectively led the way. Ronald Reagan was a master communicator, from the personal letters he wrote to citizens to his public addresses, and navigated the waters of world diplomacy and domestic affairs with solid results.

I would give three of the four categories to Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower. Some of these are only above average in two categories, but even that is rare among our presidents. Jefferson was almost a president emeritus, having spent most of his goodwill for America on his years before taking office; also, I don’t believe he ever gave a speech during his time in office. Receiving consideration for three stars were Presidents Kennedy and George H.W. Bush, but in the end, they were one-termers with flaws.

As for our newest White House occupant, it isn't fair to project his place as a legacy cannot be formed from 10 days in office. But I have seen him demonstrate leadership and communication skills that, over the course of time, could be good enough to put him among the greats. But honestly, I’m unconvinced of his wisdom—with more bail-out packages (and too much of the money going to non-stimulus items like STD education, student loan programs, weather tracking, and the NEA to name a few), executive orders that tear down some of the few remaining protections against wholesale abortion, a reactionary plan for dealing with the Guantanamo terrorists--and in condsideration that his ability to form relationships with the world and to protect our citizens is unknown. It will be an interesting four years.

The Magic Foot Theory

Have I told you about this one? In The Island at the Center of the World, author Russell Shorto describes "The Magic Foot Theory" the philosophy by which England absorbed so many lands. To snag North America for instance, all they needed was for an explorer, under their charter, to set foot on the land and be the first European to do so--then all the land cascading from their toe forward would be the kingdom's domain. It cracks me up. Though like or not, this bullying, megalomaniacal, opportunisitic, capitalistic, inspirational (however you want to slice it) philosophy was just the thing that launched this great country. Without it, we might never know these United States. Where else could men and women form a more perfect union than on new ground?

Food for thought, besides, I've been wanting to use the word megalomaniacal ever since I heard Barrack Obama use it in a piece ABC did tonight on the evening news. Fun fact: "The Magic Bullet Theory" was a ditty that fascinated me during my college years--and my intimate knowledge of it helped me (and someone I know) ace our final comps.

Twenty Four Bucks Used to Count for Something

We've all heard the story of how the American Indians sold Manhattan for 24 bucks. 60 guilders, actually. Well technically, it was the equivalent of that currency, only in wares and clothes that would have been great luxuries to the Indians. With the "sale," the Indians expected partnership with the settlers (in this case, the Dutch) and assistance in defense against their enemies (other tribes).

To a Native American in the 17th century, the sale of land was not understood as a final transaction, but a sort of renter's agreement. The land was vast and wild and if they could get a few luxuries as the Dutch cultivated the land and became their allies, they deemed it a good trade. They did not leave the land, but continued to use what was occupied the Dutch. In fact, there is some record of particular Indians acting as real estate agents and getting commission as a result of their brokering, often taking the form of overnight stays in the settler's homes (often with their women). One of the Dutch in writing back to Amsterdam, reported that he didn't go half a day without encountering a native and suppling him with some good or service.

So in a sense, the Native Americans were expecting community in their bartering. They were often shrewd and were quite aware of the pros and cons of the trade. The trade for Manhattan even approximates the rate for purchases of other tracts of land (Long Island, a large portion of New Jersey, etc.) and is just less than what fellow Dutchmen traded land to each other for. We all know that later the English settlers abused this relationship with the Indians, broke promises, chased them from the land, and mired them on a reservations, but the beginnings don't sound as awful as they are sometimes described.

This information comes from the excellent book, The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto. A fantastic read.

The Vexing Work of Vetting a VP

With all this talk of vice presidents--who's courting whom, and who would be best--it's interesting to note how underwhelming the position tends to be. Many VPs have grumbled about the position's deficits--likening it to imprisonment, etc. Presidents with very successful legacies can sometimes sweep a former-VP into the White House (see Reagan-Bush, though it took Nixon a long time to get there), but usually that only happens with assassination. More likely than not, a VP will never see the true seat of power: see Al Gore.

One of the most common refrains we have heard the past two weeks as speculation swirls around the objects of Obama's and McCain's personal pursuits is that you can only mess up your pick, not significantly help yourself. The old line was to find someone who could carry a state for you: but did Lloyd Bentsen carry Texas for Dukakis? Or John Edwards carry North Carolina for Kerry? George W. Bush picked Dick Cheney to add experience and foreign expertise to his package, and Obama may try for the same perception with a Joe Biden pick... it remains to be seen. It is also interesting to note the revolving door that many presidential terms had with their VP.

Did you know that most assumed presidencies--those terms completed by the VP after the death or resignation of the president--were completed without a VP? (see Tyler, Fillmore, A. Johnson, Arthur, T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, Johnson, Ford). It seems these former VPs--thrown into the stew without any time to formulate a 100-day plan--believed it unnecessary to get an able-bodied VP in da house to help bear the weight. Hmmm.

Floating and Stinging: The Butterfly and Bee Thing

Here's a few far-out things I learned from an excellent PBS documentary I saw on Muhammad Ali/ Cassius Clay this week:

• The old footage shows him as long, lean, and very quick. He had the unorthodox strategy of ducking and even backing away from his opponents' jabs. Critics thought someone would catch up to him sooner or later, or that he'd lose his balance with all the backward leaning.

• He would reach at his opponents with his long arms, jabbing their noses with a flick of the wrist. It doesn't look like much, but it had great effect. His toe-tapping dances were kind of funny, too.

• He was an early rapper. Rhyming and rapping his playful boasts, and screaming collegially with his boxing buddies. He says he got some of his act from Gorgeous George, the fake-wrestling behemoth with the girly-hair.

• His championship bout with Sonny Liston was filled with high drama. Liston was a slow-moving moose of a man and no one--not even Ali's allies--really thought Ali had a chance of besting Liston. But Liston couldn't keep up with him. Finally seeing himself tiring, Liston put a stringent on his gloves and blinded Ali, but Angelo Dundee made Ali go back out into the ring and fight blind. Liston was defeated and Ali took the championship belt.

• Ali was already involved with the Nation of Islam on the eve of the Liston fight. This news was kept under wraps and it is speculated that it would have been leaked if he'd lost the fight with the intent on destroying Ali's career.

• He became very close to Malcolm X--the two imagining themselves as brothers. But when Malcolm discovered the duplicity of Elijah Muhammad (the Nation of Islam's leader) and learned of his many underage couplings, Malcolm became disenfranchised and aimed to take Ali and a young Louis Farrakhan (then Louis X) out of the group. Elijah one upped Malcolm by courting Ali, who had just changed his name from Cassisu Clay to Cassius X, but Elijah dubbed him Muhammad Ali. This was apparently a great honor, the name "Muhammad" was seen as a coveted designation perhaps reserved for someone like the star evangelist, Malcolm. This infuriated Malcolm and he left the nation without any of its big names. About a year later he was gunned down and Ali, who had turned against Malcolm, said something to the effect of "that's what happens when you mess with the nation."

Interesting stuff. A terrific athelete who cleverly invented an image for himself using the tools of the burgeoning television media, but who ultimately got caught up in error. Though the extent of institutionalized racism he and so many others had to live through would have made many a young man search for purpose that went beyond society's constraints.

Skinny Dipping in the Potomac

This Independence Day... Before you unroll the bunting... grill a hotdog, or light a Roman candle see "Skinny Dipping in the Potomac," a musical memory celebrating the life and legacy of America's 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt.

This traveling tribute to the original Rough Rider, and champion of the federal parks system, will have you singing and dancing all the way to Panama. From show-stoppers like, "It's Good to the Last Drop, Tennessee!", to "Don't Call Me Teddy," "I Know Judo," and the melancholy classic, "No V.P. for Me."

"Skinny Dipping in the Potomac" is a toe-tapping treasure from its opening all-cast number, "Shhh... Speak Softly" all they way to the closing title song. This reviewer found particular poignancy in these lyrics from the song, "Teddy Bear," representing T.R.'s childhood:

"All's he gots to live for is that seal's head, with his sneezing and his wheezing and his double-thickness lenses, he'll be snoozing and a woozing till he's studied taxidermy."

You'll laugh as T.R. takes a bullet, then gives a 90-minute speech that begins, "I don't know whether you fully understand that I have been shot..." But you're also sure to cry as his dear wife dies and he runs off to the Dakotas to be near the Indians.

Full of historical accuracies, and wonderful characters, "Skinny Dipping in the Potomac" is certain to make this century's first lasting contribution to musical theater. Riveting from start to finish, you'll fall in love with America's first conservationist all over again. "Skinny Dipping in the Potomac"--tickets are on sale now through TicketMaster.

Dirty Politics

Although it has its boring stretches, I am really enjoying the book Adams v. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800. Inside, I just came across the story of James Callender, a convicted seditionist, who Thomas Jefferson hired to write scourges against John Adams' character during the presidential race. Callender, fresh off destroying Alexander Hamilton's reputation, greedily accepted the opportunity.

This book is incredibly eye-opening about the nature of politics in the United States. If you thought presidential and congressional politics were nasty and distasteful, they're nothing compared to 200 years ago! Alexander Hamilton tried to manipulate both the eletion of 1796 and 1800 to elect the candidate that would give him the most power.

The thing that amused me about Callender was what he was looking for in  a wife. These are the three things he wanted: A woman who could fatten pigs, boil hominy, and hold her tongue.

Later, after Jefferson's victory made John Adams a one-term president, Callender tried to blackmail Jefferson. He threatened to release all the seedy details of their partnership, so Jefferson paid him off with $50. It didn't buy his silence for long, because Callender soon disclosed in the press what Jefferson did to Adams--and as a bonus--spilled the alleged details about Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

Ladies, you may be relieved to know that Callender died just a few years after his quest--in three feet of water along the shore of the James River in Virginia.

* I always knew that Adams and Jefferson despised each other, but later became great friends, corresponded for decades, and died on the same day (July 4, 1826). But what I didn't know previously was that they were great friends BEFORE they got into presidential politics. And what drove them apart was a misunderstanding over private comments Jefferson made about Adams' monarchistic tendencies. They were comments Jefferson would have--and did--discuss with Adams, but because it came out as gossip, it destroyed their friendship for many years.

The Best Democratic Presidents, #1

The title of this post may seem like an oxymoron, but nonetheless, here goes:

Andrew Jackson (1829-37)- "Old Hickory" had two things going for him, he was born in the beautiful state of South Carolina and he was a Presbyterian. Today he is remembered as one of the most famous Tennesseans and a war hero who became president.

Amazingly, Jackson fought as a child in the Revolutionary War for a few years before the casualties of war (mainly illness) left him an orphan when his mother died. He was barely 15. Despite this setback, Jackson ascended to great heights, representing the self-made American frontiersman. And although he was scorned as an adulterer (for living with a woman who had been abandoned by her husband), Jackson won American favor through his leadership in various skirmishes against the Indians and in the War of New Orleans--where his rag-tag group did the unthinkable and triumphed over the mighty British army.

As president, Jackson fought for state authority, and in his biggest triumph, helped to dissolve the 2nd Bank of the United States, an unfair financial system that gave privilege to the government and its leaders.

Still, Jackson was a man with a terrible temper, who was no friend of the Indian, or the slave. He even supported "gag rules" which kept debates about slavery off the floors of Congress. Andrew Jackson also botched the purchase of Texas and brought the U.S. to the verge of war with Mexico as Texas declared its independence.

Andrew Jackson was a fascinating character, a man of many talents and successes, the founder of the Democratic Party and the champion of the two-party system. Jackson also cast himself as a man of the people, speaking in plan English as an advocate for the people, and against special interests. And though he was derisively called, "King Andrew" for his expansive executive powers, he did squash the national debt and fight off early threats of secession on his way to preserving the strength of the United States.

Next: Grover Cleveland

Commode Chair

How'd you like to use one of these?

It's what Ben Franklin used back in the day. I saw this on the site dedicated to the commemoration of Franklin's 300th birthday.

I don't get the sense that this was set up in a private room, but if it was--I think it's an improvement over our porcelain seats, don't you?