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

GEORGE WASHINGTON
We have fought, our freedom's foe
And left behind for those to know
A Republic for which this nation stands
To stand for freedom in all the lands

THOMAS JEFFERSON
Vigilance eternal is the price we pay.
With blood and honor, to this very day.
For freedom's cost, some give their all,
When first they hear, sweet freedom's call.
For freedom's cost is often high,
That others live, so many die.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT
From azure blue to gold and green,
Let's keep God's work, that it be seen,
By all who love these beauteous lands
The work and majesty from God's hands.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN
God save our union of these good states,
And bless us once more, with glorious fates.
For brothers fought and mothers wept,
That this union would be kept.

I am an old gray mountain
carved, whittled into fathers of freedom.
Symbols of democracy. I am more than stone
and symbols, more than tourist attraction. Strength.
Mountainous strength stands behind my eyes, words,
knowledge that passed generations of America.

I've watched generations of America
flow by like rivers, tasting mountain
air, drifting into history as if breathing words.
They have come to live words of freedom,
generation upon generation of strength,
independence. A country of unbreakable stone.

Just as I am stone,
molded from our country's souls, hearts of America.
My power weaves through every individual...strength,
courage, reminders only a mountain
could reveal--strength, courage, reminders only freedom
could birth. Reaching far beyond the spectrum of words.

Look upon me. Remember my words,
Remember those before us. My faces of stone,
grasp far beneath fathers of freedom.
It burrows deep into ideals, souls, and memories of America.
It is America. It is mountain.
It is messenger of American dreams and strength.

It is power of every individual strength
America lives...thrives. Standing behind our words
we face futures like ancient mountains
face the world. Exposed. Powerful. Pillars. Stones
of massive endurance. That is America!
That is freedom!
That is Rushmore.

"America must regain her rightful place as a world leader---but not without nobility of character---and we don't see enough of that today.

"We need a Progressive Party to break the political monopoly. We need a Party for men and women with true character, with moral fiber, integrity and fortitude. We need voters who expect a candidate to be one of known character, courage and conviction.

"Allow me to read excerpts of what I said in 1910:
The material progress and prosperity of a nation are desireable chiefly as far as they lead to moral and material welfare of all citizens....capable of sound judgement and high ideals, active in public affairs---but, first of all, sound in homelife---just so far and no further, may we count our civilization a success.
We must have---I believe we have already---a genuine and permanent moral awakening, without which no wisdom of legislation or administration really means anything.

"On the brink of the 21st Century, America must recognize the need for a similar moral renewal---for each generation. I believe there is already just such a movement spreading across America. Therein is true progress for mankind. It is the only future hope for civilization.

"Thank you for your attention."

Theodore Roosevelt was an energetic and youthful president. He had such a positive glow about him, focusing on overcoming the obstacles to achieve a greatness we could call our own. I believe that if he could speak today, he would look at our country and see all of the things we have accomplished. We have bettered our economy, worked hard to ensure rights of working families and opportunities for health care assistance.

If Pres. Roosevelt gave his inaugural speech today, it would be just as relevant as back then. He stated, "No people on earth have more cause to be thankful than ours, in no spirit of boastfulness in our own strength, but with gratitude to the Giver of Good who has blessed us with the conditions which have enabled us to achieve so large a measure of well-being and of happiness."

I can't possibly agree more with the fact that we are the deciders of our destiny. We have the opportunity to fill our lives with happiness and live each new day as an adventure with the power to control the level of obstacles we must endure and overcome.

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.