Who’s your President

Not sure if you are aware, but the Mountain Home News Staff are huge history nerds. Okay, it’s just me. I am the nerd, and I force everyone else to play my little history games. This week in honor of President’s Day I asked the office staff who their favorite president was, told them they couldn’t pick Andrew Jackson (him and I got beef), and had them tell me a little of why they liked that president. Here’s what they said.

Swana: Theodore Roosevelt is one of my favorite Presidents because he was the first President (and first American) to win a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping a war between Russia and Japan by mediating between the two leaders in 1905.

In 1902 Roosevelt participated in a bear hunt in Mississippi, and after three days all other members of the part had spotted a bear but the President had not. The party members decided they couldn’t let the President have an unsuccessful bear hunt and soon tracked down a senior black bear that they then tied to a tree for Roosevelt to shoot. Roosevelt took a single look at the bear and refused to shoot it, stating it would simply be unsportsmanlike. This event spawned a cartoon drawn up depicting the scenario and ran in local newspapers around the area. When a candy shop owner saw the cartoon, he had the idea to put two stuffed bears that his wife had made, in the window of his store and after asking permission from the President, decided to name them Teddy Bears. Teddy Bears grew into rapid popularity and were then mass produced, thus giving life to the teddy bears we know of now.

Additionally, Theodore Roosevelt was very easy on the eyes.

Brenda: During my adult life and active in a political sense, my favorite President was George W. Bush ( 2001-2009). As president he was a supporter and outspoken advocate of all military veterans past and present. He was a supportive family man and being one myself, a Texan. He was the sitting president during 9/11 and had to carry and show great strength for the American People in a time of much needed solidarity as well as a need for Peace of Heart across our nation.

Andrew: I liked Regan. He was such a cool cowboy, in and out of office.

Joy: I’m Canadian

Krystal: It is always difficult for me to chose between George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The men truly were the epitome of what I think it means to be American. Granted, they both had massive failings and short comings, but they also both strived to live the most virtuous life that they could. Well you know, for the times I mean (iykyk).

Washington had the opportunity to become king of America essentially and didn’t. He knew the importance of stepping down and handing over power peacefully, even when there were more than a few that tried to convince him otherwise.

Lincoln straight up dealt with the death of a son and depression all while attempting to navigate the horrors of the Civil War. The most divided time of the countries existence.

Although, I think we all know who the heroes were, Martha Washington and Mary Todd Lincoln. Let’s be real, nothing would have got done in this nation if it weren’t for the fearless women who served alongside their husbands.