“President Bush, yes, spent money like a drunken sailor, and left the nation with a record $400-billion deficit. President Obama, however, is spending far more money than Bush, with a record $1.8 trillion deficit projected for his first year.” YearsFirstsLeftNationsPresidentRecordsSpendingBillionsPresident ObamaMore MoneyDeficitPresident BushSailor Author:Paul Kengor
“Throughout American history our presidents have invoked our nation's founding fathers. This is particularly true of recent presidents.” FatherNationsPresidentAmerican HistoryFounding Author:Paul Kengor
“Which founders have these presidents cited - and why? What did, say, President [Ronald] Reagan's view of George Washington, or President [Bill] Clinton's view of Thomas Jefferson, tell us about their view of America and where they intended to lead the country?In many cases, it told us a lot about the president.” CountryAmericaPresidentViewsCasesBillsClintonFoundersPresident Bill ClintonPresident Ronald Reagan Author:Paul Kengor
“The presidents varied in the degree to which they cited the founders. Some, like JFK, LBJ, [Richard] Nixon, and [Bill] Clinton, cited them somewhat frequently, in the range of 100 to 200 times, though, regrettably, not in a thematic or notably profound or even interesting way. Others, like Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, cited them rarely.” WayPresidentInterestingDegreesBillsProfoundClintonRangeFoundersJimmyCarterInteresting WaysThematicLbjGerald Ford Author:Paul Kengor
“[Gerald] Ford and [Jimmy] Carter, in fact, were huge disappointments to me. Think about this: They were the presidents around the time of America's historic bicentennial, and yet rarely quoted the founders.” ThinkingFactsAmericaPresidentHugeDisappointmentFoundersHistoricJimmyCarterGerald Ford Author:Paul Kengor
“Frankly, neither president [Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter] was an inspiring figure; so, maybe their lack of inspiration by the founders shouldn't surprise us.” InspirationPresidentFiguresSurpriseFoundersJimmyCarterGerald Ford Author:Paul Kengor
“Speaking of [Ronald] Reagan on the faith of the founders, he was particularly fond of George Washington, who he cited nearly 200 times, and almost twice as much as all the presidents since [John F.]Kennedy combined.” PresidentFounders Author:Paul Kengor
“Maybe the most interesting find in my research is that it is clear that Ronald Reagan, among all modern presidents, plainly rediscovered the founders.” PresidentInterestingClearModernResearchFoundersMost Interesting Author:Paul Kengor
“I was a child or didn't live through those presidents prior to [Ronald] Reagan, and thus didn't realize how little attention they had paid to the founders.” ChildrenLittlesPresidentRealizingAttentionPaidFounders Author:Paul Kengor
“[John] McCain references favorite presidents like Teddy Roosevelt. Hillary cited Eleanor Roosevelt.” PresidentMccainTeddyEleanor Author:Paul Kengor
“If our presidents, or potential presidents, don't know this or don't articulate [an America ideal], that's a blown opportunity. The president can teach as well as lead.” IfsKnowsWellsAmericaOpportunityPresidentTeachIdeals Author:Paul Kengor
“It is interesting that liberals don't mind a strong faith at all. When it's their guy with a strong faith - whether it's Jimmy Carter or Woodrow Wilson or Harry Truman - that's just great. FDR inscribing Bibles and sending them to the troops. God bless him! But when a Republican president cites Jesus Christ as his favorite philosopher, as George W. Bush did on a famous occasion, then, well, the liberals cry out that [Tomás de] Torquemada is on the loose and warn gravely of the coming Inquisition.” MindWellsGuyJesusStrongPresidentChristInterestingCryRepublicanJesus ChristPhilosopherOccasionsBlessTomsTroopsJimmyCarterGod BlessWilsonInquisitionCitingTrumanStrong FaithHarry Truman Author:Paul Kengor
