Neev - Week 10 - The Power of a President
The impact a truly great president can have on American and global society is remarkable. As I did the research for my Person of American Significance research paper, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the poise and maturity President John F. Kennedy (quite ironic because he was, and still is, the youngest ever elected president) displayed throughout his presidency, helping America become a more equal and powerful nation while maintaining peace and avoiding war with the Soviet Union, even during the peak of the Cold War.
President Kennedy diplomatically communicating with top
President Kennedy had the ability to transcend the politics and tensions of the time, and see the situations he dealt with at a human scale. He strongly believed in the power of diplomacy and communication, even with the nation’s targeted enemies (like the Soviet Union). Kennedy saw the Russians as humans, too. He looked above the superficial differences between Americans and the Soviets such as their political ideologies, nuclear strength, or religions, and saw them both as two large human populations. He acknowledged, especially publicly, that the Soviets drank the same water as Americans, worked as hard as Americans, and loved their kids as much as Americans. This empathy that Kennedy had might have been the single thing keeping humanity from nuclear fallout and potential extinction. Time and time again, whether it be the Turkish crisis or the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy’s dedication to peace and understanding of his importance in saving human lives saved the world from nuclear armageddon.
Soviet officials to avoid war during the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962.
And that is the power of a good president. All presidents and world leaders have power, but only the most mature and transcending leaders can proudly claim that they used their power to make the world a safer and more unified place.
Neev, I’ve never heard of the Turkish crisis; can you provide a link so I can learn about the event you are referring to? The only event I can think of in Kennedy’s presidency that involved Turkey was an exchange in the Cuban Missile Crisis where the U.S. withdrew missiles in Turkey in exchange for the Soviets withdrawing missiles from Cuba; is this what you were referring to? As to making the world a better place, I believe that peace and deescalation are not necessarily a prerequisites. In some instances, war is a necessity in order to right injustice, such as in WWII, where the U.S. entry into the war helped bring an end to fascism. Rather, I believe foresight, and the ability to see the long-term effects of one’s actions, is the most important skill.
ReplyDeleteHey Neev! The power of the president might seem obvious to many, but I like how you displayed the particular habits and characteristics of your POAS that made him such a powerful and impactful American leader. JFK’s diplomacy and communication with diverse groups of individuals was definitely not something I had known before, and it was great to see how he saw everyone as equals despite their actions. I definitely agree that peace and understanding can be the solution in high pressure situations where anything but that seems right. There are many people who have power, but it is those who use that power not for their own advantage but for the peace of the world who have the true power, and I like how you showcased that trait through Kennedy’s dedication to de-escalating situations. Seeing everyone as human and equal to you requires a high level of respect and maturity for other people, and to see beyond someone’s actions and having empathy for them is something showcased brilliantly in this blog. Good job!
ReplyDeleteHi Neev. Franklin D. Roosevelt does seem like an integral part of U.S. history. We are learning all about him in my U.S. History class. Our teacher, Mr. Bulligton, taught our class about Franklin D. Roosevelt's life, his charisma and influence on people, and his New Deals. While I do not have much to comment on his personal life, I am not a fan of how he is a cheater. But as for his influence on his people, I have to admit that I am impressed by him. We had this assignment that taught us about his Fireside Chats, which were these he did before his presidency in which he would talk into the radio and explain his thought process for his actions. His transparency (even if it was a lie) was great enough to have the people trust him and his actions. When he did one Fireside Chat at the start of his presidency to assure his people that closing the banks temporarily were to help with the Great Depression, his charisma and strict tone were what calmed the people. As for the New Deals, not all of them worked. But the ones that did helped a large variety of people, like the artists, writers, homeless, women, and children. He started things that still exist to this day like Social Security and no child labor. So I agree with your point, relative to the other presidents, he was integral to keeping America powerful.
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