Franklin D. Roosevelt & William J. Clinton
There are two main reasons I prefer Franklin D. Roosevelt to other American presidents. The first of these reasons is his educational background and the second is his seemingly tireless devotion to the welfare of the United States and its citizens. Roosevelt was the son of aristocratic, wealthy parents. Because of this he traveled extensively to Europe, Canada, and other places. This exposure added to his intelligence and learning that were carried out by private tutors at his home, at private schools, and included Harvard and law school. As one biographer says of Roosevelt during his time spent at Harvard, ôHe had begun to develop a sense of duty, as a child of wealth and privilege, to contribute to the greater good of societyö (Ryan 2002, 1). Therefore, RooseveltÆs exposure and education enabled him to focus on the good for all of society and all people. Unlike many of our leaders, including President Bush, Roosevelt seemed intent on helping all people in need and not just select interest groups.
The other reason I prefer Roosevelt to other American presidents is his tireless devotion to serve the country and its people. Roosevelt suffered from many physical ailments, including polio, and yet he managed to serve into his fourth term as president through the hardships of the Depression and World War II. Through these great American trials, Roosevelt demanded a great deal from others but also from himself. He carefully managed to conceal his debilitating health from the American public in order to restore confidence during perilous times. He relied upon the support of his wife who often acted as his ôlegsö when Roosevelt was too frail to manage. Despite suffering from ill health and at an age when most men of wealth and leisure are more focused on the golf course than the course of history, Roosevelt implemented many successful programs and initiatives that helped positi...