Pantheon

Washington in action

Who:

Soldier, father of nation, all around good guy.

Why:

An obvious choice for my new pantheon, George Washington was, in the truest sense of the word, an amazing man. A consummate man of action, Washington wasn't an inventive genius in the manner of a Franklin or a radical intellectual like Thomas Paine. Nor was he necessarily a man of reflection like Jefferson. All Washington did was win the War of Independence and steer the radical experiment that was the United States for its first eight years. In other words, others talked, and Washington did (although talking had its role).

Character was Washington's calling card. How important is character in a leader?
Consider that Washington's greatest achievement isn't what he did- it's what he didn't do. Although encouraged by many close to him, Washington refused to be the first King of the United States. In a move unprecedented in secular world history (St. Thomas More, but he did so for religious reasons.), Washington gave up considerable power for an ideal. And democracy, the ideal for which Washington sacrificed, was one that hadn't been attempted in its pure form for two thousand years prior.

But

Yes, Washington did own slaves, as was the custom at the time for a Virginian of his stature. No record exists, however, of him mistreating them and he did, upon his death, free them.

Who: Lean, some say mean, tax cutting machine.

Why: Passed welfare reform and eventually balanced budget for first time in memory. Saved Guirado family big bucks.

But: Wasn't Gingrich mean? No. What about impeachment? Yes, an overreach.