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This year as, we celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary as an independent nation, it’s natural to look back and compare the America of 1776 to our country today. So much has changed, in morals and politics, economics and demography, fashion and cuisine, literature and the fine arts. We’ve run through a lot of Presidents, too, forty-six to be exact: forty-five white men and Barack Obama.
Which got me wondering: have Presidents changed as much as all these other things over the past two and a half centuries? How, for example, does our current President stack up against our first one?
Reflecting on his own place in history, Donald Trump has stated “I’m like George Washington,” and in some ways he is. Both men were/are tall, for example, and self-confident. Both spoke no French, yet managed to antagonize them: Washington, as a young colonel of militia, by presiding over the massacre of a French diplomatic envoy that helped spark the French and Indian War, Trump by weakening NATO and making fun of George and Amal Clooney.
In the end, however, the differences between the two men may be more salient than their similarities, particularly in their philosophies of life and attitudes toward governing. See if you can guess who said which of the following quotations.
Washington ... or Trump?
“In executing the duties of my present important station, I can promise nothing but purity of intentions, and, in carrying these into effect, fidelity and diligence.”
“I’ve made a lot of money. I’ve been very successful. I don’t have to do this. I’m doing this because I want to do it. And frankly, I don’t give a shit what anybody thinks.”
“Be not glad at the misfortune of another, though he may be your enemy.”
“Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.”
“He’s a war hero – he’s a war hero ’cause he was captured. I Like people that weren’t captured, OK, I hate to tell you.”
“I would bring back waterboarding, and I’d bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding ... If it doesn’t work, they deserve it anyway.”
“The Arts and Sciences, essential to the prosperity of the State and to the ornament of human life, have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind.”
“I really believe the Democrats are trying to destroy our country. I really believe it. I really believe they hate our country.”
“Truth will ultimately prevail where pains is taken to bring it to light.”
“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.”
“Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it.”
“The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it.”
"That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them. I'm sorry."
“Pocahontas is not happy, she’s not happy… you know, Pocahontas — I’m doing such a disservice to Pocahontas… but this Elizabeth Warren, I call her ‘goofy’ Elizabeth Warren, she’s one of the worst senators in the entire United States Senate.”
“My feelings are continually wounded by the sufferings of our miserable prisoners, and I am persuaded that nothing but the most vigorous exertions of power will prevent their total ruin.”
“As we profess ourselves to be contending for the rights of human nature, I trust we shall not disgrace the cause by any act of cruelty.”
I’m very highly educated. I know words, I have the best words.”
“The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.”
“What you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening.”
“What I want to do is this: I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have, because we won the state.”
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