Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln:
Presidents with Visions for America

"If they could speak today, what might they say?"
Inspired by Mt. Rushmore National Monument

I believe George Washington would say, "I am proud of my country. You have evolved so much since I left you. You can fly. People in my day only dreamed of flying and now you are flying to the moon and attempting mars. We also didn't have cars. We went everywhere on either barefoot or horseback (that is if you could afford a horse). Now all people have to do is jump in a vehicle and turn a key. When I was president only free men could vote. Now you have come as far as all but children voting. Remember, you have always had it better than me. Please, never forget that." That is what I think George Washington would say.

When Theodore Roosevelt was young he suffered from asthma, but he did not let that stop him. Once when he was by himself on a trip to Maine he was tormented by two boys. He felt ashamed that he wasn't strong enough to fight back.

He wouldn't accept his weakness, instead he used it to push himself to be better. His father built him a gym in their home. Theodore exercised regularly and eventually overcame his athsma and built up above average physical strength.

I think Theodore would want our school system to accept less things and push more things to be better. He would want us not to just accept that many kids can't work at a faster pace or that they can't learn things more in depth, but to encourage them to do so from day one.

I think he would be glad that doctors and scientists don't just accept that a disease is incurable or unbeatable. They often work towards curing it and beating it.

I think he wanted people to not just accept their weaknesses, but to work towards being a better person, whether that means just being nicer to people or building better physical strength.

If Lincoln were alive right now he might say, "let's keep this country together. Now stop arguing about nonsense. Let's get together and keep this country working. Why split up now when we have a beautiful country to take care of? We won the war and we should be proud of it. We lost our friends and our families but we still have each other. We can live to see the end and to tell it to our children and our children's children's and on and on."

Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt are the memory of millions of people everywhere because their faces show on the wonderful mountain of Mount Rushmore. If Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt were here, they would be amazed of how we have changed since they lived here. They would be so happy to have their faces carved in Mount Rushmore.

What would Washington say about the environment he would say "Oh, this is so wonderful what you have done with Custer State Park, you have given the animals food to eat, more room and everything that they need." That is what George Washington would say about the environment.

What would Thomas Jefferson say about the economy? I don't know, maybe you should ask him. Thomas Jefferson would say, "The economy is great, almost everybody has a good paying job, at least from want I know. No one is homeless because of homeless shelters." So that is what Thomas Jefferson would say about the economy.

Here is what Roosevelt would say about the pollution. Roosevelt would say "You need to do something about this pollution, there is no fresh air until you go out into the country." "Do something about it!" That is what Roosevelt would say about the pollution.

What would Lincoln say about how we have changed. He would say, "We have changed a lot, but this is very good that we have changed and that we will always be a independent country forever." That is what Lincoln would say about how we have changed."

This is what the faces on Mount Rushmore would say about the environment, economy, pollution, and how we have changed. They would be so proud to see their faces carved in Mount Rushmore, for millions of people to see.

Have you ever thought, what if the presidents of the famous Mount Rushmore could talk? Well it is going to be a once in a life time chance today! Our WWN (Weird World News) scientist, Wonka Weirdo, has invented a amazing machine. It will make Mount Rushmore come alive, and at midnight they will change back to stone for one hundred years. It will be a interview made by me, Billy Bonko," said a young man holding a microphone.

I was standing behind the camera. We were at the great historical monument, Mount Rushmore. I sighed impatiently. I was anxious to hear from the presidents (George Washington, Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, and T. Roosevelt) not Billy. Billy was being his usual annoying self.

"I think they are starting to wake up," Billy said. I aimed the camera.

"Ahhh! Oh!," a voice boomed out. Roosevelt yawned. Slowly they all woke up.

"Whoa...I mean, um, now that you are awake, what do you think of America's society?" Billy stammered on live television.

"After watching from this rock, I think we can say we are very pleased. The government is still democratic, which is outstanding!" Abe said.

"Uh, Mr. Lincoln, sir. How do you know this stuff so well?" Billy asked.

"Oh, you read a few passing newspapers here and there," Lincoln replied.

"Anyway, we are quite proud of America. You have gone to the moon and have an excellent military program. You have an amazing Gross National Product now, and not so many economic problems. The world has changed, and America has too. The nation of America has prospered pleasantly. Yet there are still faults. There are things we would change." said Jefferson.

"Yes, but that is a common thing. It is only natural for such a young country. There are of course, bumps in your golden path to a glorious nation. Yet still we are pleased at the outcome," said Roosevelt.

As they turned back to stone for another hundred years, I felt quite pleased. As I turned off the camera, I thought of how they must feel waking up and noticing how things have changed. Who knows that they will think of all the possibilities of changes that could result in the next hundred years.

If I could speak today, what would I say?

I see a lot of good things happening in the U.S.A. We are taking good care of our natural resources by recycling, and cleaning the air and water. This is important to me, because I was the first to save land and our natural resources when I set aside millions of acres for national forests.

The technology of today is great. When I was president, we had great technological advances. I witnessed the advent of the wireless telegram and the Panama Canal. The Wright Brothers were also flying the first airplane. Today, you have computers and the Internet, and incredible medical technology. You have cures for cancer, and can do surgery with lasers. Then there is communication. In my time, all we had was telegrams. Now, you have car phones and cell phones.

I passed the Food and Drug Act of 1906, which established the Food and Drug Administration. I tried to keep food and medicine safe and pure.

Today you have kept up with what I initiated. It is gratifying to see that the things I started nearly 100 years ago are still in use today!

The National Parks which I helped conserve,
Should get all that they deserve,
And the trees standing tall,
Shouldn't be cut down at all,
Looking back in time,
When you could buy more for a dime,
I had a dream,
That the country should be seen,
In all its natural green.

Hi I'm Abe Lincoln everyone thinks I'm cool
But when I was alive they thought I was a fool
Now I am at least respected
So on stone I was resurrected

I helped resolve the Civil War
But that's not all, I did much more
I had three children and a wife
By the way were they brought back to life?

Now I must say goodbye
Hey I'm an angel can I fly?
Now I must say goodbye to you
So see you soon and tootl'oo!

I came with my parents and sisters to see what I could see, I don't know all about you yet or why your so big. I just wanted to take a look. I'm learning about you from my presidents book.

Mr. Borglum and his helpers did a good job, making your faces way up there on those rocks and I want to do a great job too and I'm going to do my best in school to learn everything I can, so I'm glad I came to see what I can see now. I know what I want to be.