Lincoln, Washington, and ... Reagan?

Even Andrew Jackson would take issue with your characterization of him as one of the "good guys." His wont was to instill fear. "Genocide Your Plan" Jackson's Your Man." Take it from the Cherokee. "John Marshall gave his opinion, let him enforce it," said Old Hickory.

And what of "good guy" segregationist Wilson? Bravo. (Let the record show that water fountains and lavatories in government facilities were not segregated under Taft and desegregated-all too slowly-under Harding, Coolidge and Truman. Who have I left out? A good administer, Old Woody made certain that civil service applications included photographs of applicants.

Please tell me what FDR ever did for civil rights? He opposed anti-lynching legislation and persuaded civil rights leaders to call off a march on Washington to protest discrimination in government employment and contracting in exchange for a promise he never kept. Oh, have I mentioned the internment of Japanese Americans that both those awful right wingers J.Edgar Hoover and Robert Taft (one of JFK's profiles in courage opposed. When informed that Eleanor Roosevelt had spoken out in favor federal legislation outlawing lynching and measures to admit more Jewish refugees in the pre-war years, FDR announced that he could not control the "Missus." (What would Hillary delegates have thought of that.

Time for Jack to calm down. I lowed the beloved FDR from 3rd to 7th place. Hardly the end of the world. I give him credit for ridding the world of one of the worst tyrannical regimes in history, which is more than my critics do for Reagan. (Even Dobyrin gave the Gipper that!)

These old myths die hard, I know. which is why I wrote the book. Let the record show that U.S. Grant was the last president before Ike to send federal troops to the south to enforce civil and voting rights for African Americans. And let the record show that Harry Truman, who I consider a brave, courageous, and neat-great president, was also beset by scandal. (Remember "Korea, Corruption, and Communism?)

Cheers,

Alvin S. Felzenberg, Ph.D. of 4:42PM August 14, 2008