Gallup, as it periodically does, asked Americans who was our greatest President. Here's the story:
Gallup Poll Reveals Reagan Now the People's Choice (Published: February 22, 2005 1:30 PM ET)
NEW YORK A new Gallup Poll, released today, finds that Ronald Reagan is now the people's choice for America's greatest president ever. Bill Clinton comes in second.
While this finding may suggest that many Americans favor only recent presidents, it does represent a strong rise for Reagan since his recent passing. The previous Gallup survey on this subject placed Reagan behind co-leaders Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy.
In another interesting finding, Gallup found that mothers don't want their babies to grow up to be cowboys -- or presidents. Men by a 52%-46% margin said they would like their son or daughter to "grow up to be president," but women say no by 67% to 29%.
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In this new poll on greatest president, Reagan drew 20% support, followed by Clinton with 15%, Lincoln with 14%, and Franklin D. Roosevelt and JFK with 12% each.
Republicans rate Reagan over Lincoln 42% to 14%, while Democrats put Clinton far in the lead over FDR. Independents favor Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Kennedy.
By age group, Clinton is favored by the youngest (18-29), Reagan by the 30-49 group, Kennedy by the 50-64 baby boomers, and FDR by the elderly.
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So what does this say about the American people? It really is kind of troubling, isn't it -- on our side, for example, that ANYONE could compare Clinton's accomplishments with what FDR, who was President only 70 years ago, did for our country and the world.
Why are we so historically illiterate? And what can be done to fix that particular problem?
Discuss amongst yourselves ......