Who is your favorite American in history regardless of race or gender? (war, England)

[lionking]

choose by personality,character and achievment period.

[BlueWillowPlate]

I admire many, but one who comes to mind right now is Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay.)
I can barely even watch boxing, but I admire Ali for bravely and skillfully using his talent to achieve so much, despite many challenges and setbacks. He made a name for himself during a turbulent time in history, with the Vietnam War raging, and America's civil rights issues. But he backed up all his trash talking with some of the most exciting title fights ever.
Since then, after all he accomplished, he has spent many, many years giving back.

[Tricky D]

A toss between Martin Luther King JR, Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X.
They fought for their ideals and never backed down.

[Irishtom29]

Lincoln. Regardless of race or gender. ?!?

[Full-Blooded American]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Lincoln. Regardless of race or gender. ?!?

Abraham Lincoln, the racial separatist who started deporting black people after the civil war?

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Full-Blooded American

Abraham Lincoln, the racial separatist who started deporting black people after the civil war?

Lincoln deported nobody after the Civil War, indeed he was murdered before the war was even over. You didn't know that?

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Lincoln deported nobody after the Civil War, indeed he was murdered before the war was even over. You didn't know that?

It was either Lincolns ghost or maybe his evil twin awoken from a coma?
Lincoln wasn't perfect but he took the steps in the right direction.

My choice is Martin Luther King or George Washington...hard to pick.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by lionking

choose by personality,character and achievment period.

The unknown farmers and spouses that quietly cleared their land, instilled values into their kids, fought and died when their values were threatened, and made the value of the country through labor and ingenuity. All the others are merely big egos that play on that hard-won playground. To the extent that those leaders are lauded, they only reflect the core values of those people and their offspring.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

My choice is Martin Luther King or George Washington...hard to pick.

Hard indeed. If I had to pick four it would be Washington, Lincoln, FDR and King.

But Washington and Lincoln are the two indispensable men of American history; without Washington the revolt against England would've failed and the nation wouldn't have existed and without Lincoln the nation would've divided.

I also give high marks to Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison and James Polk.

[girlintheglass]

Florence Scovel Schinn (not sure of spelling) She was an author, among other things, in the twenties