Thursday, February 12th is President Lincoln's birthday. Then on Monday, the nation celebrates President's Day which is also celebrated as President Washington's birthday. I remember when I was in grade school in the 50's in Missouri, we would alternate every year between the two Presidents for a day off, one year Lincoln's birthday; the next Washington's birthday. Now we have a consolidated day to ponder all our Presidents. Some I choose not to consider too much but I do like to read about some of our great presidents who have led the nation through wars and crisis, and into better ideas, ultimately making us a more thoughtful people. I like to read biographies of Presidents, especially David McCollough's John Adams, recently available on dvd, and Truman. Also, Doris Kearns Goodwin's books on the Kennedys, LBJ, and Lincoln. In honor of Abraham Lincoln, PBS has televised several productions on Lincoln. Especially informative was the Looking For Lincoln show.
Besides Washington, The Father of our country, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, FDR, Harry Truman, JFK, even LBJ and his Great Society and passage of the Civil Rights Act, Ronald Reagan and the end of the Cold War with the now defunct Soviet empire, and now our amazing new President Barack Obama, there are many others who have led quietly behind the scenes, like Benjamin Franklin. These are many of my favorite Presidents, (maybe one day a woman president will be in my list!). Besides lead us and maintain order, they also have to take the flack and the heat of mistakes, after all, they are only human. I truly believe that one reason our government works is that our leader is a master negotiator and innovator operating within the balance of power of Congress and the Supreme Court, and can only stay for no more than 8 years, heaven keep us, and God bless George Washington for setting that last precedent.
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