Genie Collins
PLAINS — Most Americans know that George Washington was the first president of the U.S., and that Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the U.S.
Most Americans probably also know that it was Washington to whom Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Va., and that Lincoln was president during the U.S. Civil War.
However, the lives of these two presidents for which President’s Day was declared a holiday go far beyond what they did and when. The lives were partly defined by the virtues they upheld and lived out everyday.
On Monday, Gary Kline, Ph.D., professor of political science at Georgia Southwestern State University, shed light on some of those virtues at the Presidents’ Day program at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site (NHS) Monday, the day observed by the federal government as the holiday.
“It’s important for us to remember why they deserve a special day,” Kline said. “They had character and traits that were worth emulating.”
For instance, although Washington was a man of the military, he was not a fan of war, Kline explained. He was an advocate of peace.
Having pointed out that once the Revolutionary War was over, Washington relinquished his power as commander of the Army of the Potomac, Kline said.
Kline added that Washington was a “servant of the people. He manifested this all his life.”
The professor also pointed out that Washington was the only president ever chosen unanimously by the Electoral College. Kline also added of Washington’s military prowess that he was a man of ingenuity and perseverance.
Of Lincoln, Kline said he — and Washington — held with “republican ideals,” those found in the governments of ancient Greece and Rome.
“They observed moderation, honesty and integrity,” Kline said of Washington and Lincoln. He added that Washington and Lincoln thought deeply about the legacy for the country and future generations.
When referring to Lincoln, Kline said he observed the traits of benevolence, moderation and wisdom, and that these were important during the time of the Civil War — one where brother fought brother almost — when it was easy to become bitter.
Kline explained that after the war, a lot of Northerners held the sentiment that the South should “pay” for provoking the war with secession. Kline added that Lincoln did not hold this view, and persuaded his fellow Northerners not to be angry with the South.
“He didn’t allow vindictiveness to dominate,” Kline said.
Before concluding his part of the presentation, Kline added that both Lincoln and Washington were statesmen and they wanted what was best for the entire country.
“These men made huge sacrifices for our country,” Kline said.
Then, of course, Kline alluded to the 39th president of the U.S. Jimmy Carter, who sat in attendance with former first lady Rosalynn Carter in the audience.
Kline said Carter possessed a “nobility of ideas,” and he was committed to “fighting poverty, ignorance and injustice.”
Carter explained that when he became governor of Georgia, racial discrimination was eminent, and that a “new era” of representing the people, instead of political parties was about to dawn in the South. After being elected governor, Carter took steps to end racial discrimination.
The power to change things eventually went forth into his presidency, because after becoming president, Carter said he undertook a number of issues including, energy, Middle Eastern peace, relations with China and human rights.
“The most difficult issue was the Panama Canal,” Carter said. He added the treaty to give the Panamanians control of the American-built canal was a “very controversial treaty.”
People in the audience asked Carter what advice he would give the 44th president of the U.S.
“I would like for the next president to say we will not follow a policy of pre-emptive war,” Carter said. “I would like for the next president to take a leadership role in environmental issues.”
He said he would also like for the next president to observe a “wall between Church and State.” Later, Carter said he was led by his religion in everything he had done, but that he took an oath before God to uphold the laws of the U.S. as deemed so by the Supreme Court, even if they did not hold with his beliefs.
Abortion was one of these critical issues, with Roe v. Wade having just become the landmark case that made abortion legal. Carter said he tried to make abortion less appealing, by still following the law.
As for Iraq, Carter said he would like to see the next president get the international community behind Iraq, in the country’s taking responsibility for its freedom. He also said he would like to see recommendations made for success in Iraq by upheld by the next president.
