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

President Washington would say,"I believe this country has grown since I was here! Being on Mount Rushmore is probably the biggest honor I have been given. There are no longer wars against states. People are no longer dying of hunger, frost bite, and other horrible deaths. There is fresh air and not the smell of gun powder when you wake up in the morn'. This country has truly become a wonderful place to live and grow up. I hope this country stays like this forever." George Washington

President Jefferson would say "I believe writing the Declaration of Independence helped this country greatly. From what I see, I think there has been many changes. There are no longer wars like there were in my days. Like George said, it is a great honor to be on Mount Rushmore." Thomas Jefferson

President Lincoln would say, "I'm glad to be back here. I'm happy to see the honor of the men who fought in the Civil War, happy to see that people honor me for a little speech I made. This truly is a great country, I hope it stays like this forever. Like they said, being on Mount Rushmore is probably the greatest honor, it is greater than being president." Abraham Lincoln

President Roosevelt would say, "I'm very happy to be here today, and to see what the world has come to since I was around. I'm happy to see people are allowing women to work. I hope this nation stays this way. I'm happy to see that the United States of America is trying to stop wars in other countries of the world. I still can't believe that a cute little gift to me, a Teddy Bear, has had such an impact on this world. Like the others it truly is a honor to be on Mount Rushmore and I hope it lasts forever." Teddy Roosevelt

That is what I think they would say. These people did a huge amount to help to this country. I'm happy to see that the state of South Dakota honored them so well.

She awoke
Frantic for a pen.
Her duty to impart
The words of four amazing men.

Alive in a dream,
For a second & no more,
With strong voices combined,
We the people, they did implore.

"Open minds & hearts
Do much to pave the way;
But a little time & effort
Overcomes the problems of today.

Smile, enjoy your lives
Give a helping hand.
The difference IS one person
For that, America is grand!"

High atop a mountain peak
Among the Black Hills pine
Four stone faces grace the sky
A monumental shrine

They represent our country
And South Dakota pride
They symbolize the spirit
Of people far and wide

Washington and Jefferson
Roosevelt and Lincoln
Four of our great Presidents
In words, deeds and thinkin'

I wonder what - they would say
If they were here today?
Would they say that government
Has gone a bit astray?

I wonder what - they would think
Of Politics and Polls?
Would they think that we were all
A country of lost souls?

I wonder what - they would do?
If they would all return
I wonder if we'd notice?
I wonder if we'd learn?

Would their deeds and thought and words
Carry as much thunder?
Could they make a difference now?
Would we care? . . . I wonder.

The face of Thomas Jefferson stares with determination from Mount Rushmore. His confident gaze to the stars reminds us there is a destiny to which all human beings belong.

No president had quite as strong a faith in the potential of people as Thomas Jefferson. On the edge of the twenty-first century the words of President Jefferson speak just as clearly to us.

Jefferson was a man of science and education. These two fields of endeavour will be the pillars of twenty-first century society. President Jefferson would champion the information age as a great forum to cultivate education and advance the sciences to better the human condition.

The Internet would delight Jefferson. His boundless curiosity would have him exploring new ways to diffuse knowledge throughout the world. Education brings dignity and sets us free. Jefferson would caution that to realize these aspirations all people must have the opportunity to access this resource.

Jefferson would challenge us not to cower from the ocean of change that awaits us but to seize the abundant opportunities ahead. To promote the tools of education and science to shape our new world just as Jefferson shaped his own new world. To cast light into dark corners and conquer all tyrannies over the human mind.

Our Declaration of Independence (1776) declared our belief that all men are created equally. Nearly a century later, I mandated freedom for blacks in the Emancipation Proclamation. After yet another one hundred years, the Civil Rights Movement called upon Americans to further support equal rights for all. Our nation's founders fought a great battle for freedom each of you - as a citizen in a democratic society - has a responsibility for advancing our hard-earned rights and responsibilities. Be ever mindful of our highest ideals!

Thanks to technology. I have been cloned from my own DNA, and am able to respond directly with respect to speculation about how I would address this nation if I could speak today.

I am proud of the part I played in the forming of this great country. I was honored to be associated with some of the most freedom loving, idealistic type individuals, this world has ever gathered. We felt ourselves to be directed by God, and I continue to believe that this is so.

We sought to provide for a form of government which would protect the principles of freedom of mankind as God had intended. These freedoms should never come into peril because of the passage of time, nor should our endeavors to preserve these freedoms by chaining our government to the Constitution, be corrupted for political convenience.

We should not have a greater fear of our own government than we do from foreign invaders. We should not have to wonder if our elected will prefer to honor their duty to the Constitution or if they will find their loyalty directed elsewhere. To preserve our Constitution, we must demand our freedoms are not lost through legislative action, nor to satisfy an administrative decision.

My chest swells with pride each time I lay eyes across our country on the American heroes around me...heroes as far as I can see in every direction.

Americans give of themselves selflessly, Americans who serve in our military, Americans in public service, Americans who reach out those in need and less fortunate...heroes, one and all. To each and every one I say---BULLY GOOD SHOW and GOD BLESS YOU.

I, George Washington, have traveled the USA for six weeks. What a different place the US has come to be! I am amazed at how large the country has grown. Thirteen original colonies have now expanded into fifty states. One of these states is named after me!

Every day life has changed so much. Life appears to be easier with these new inventions. With the equipment available today, surveying a farm would take less time. Also, new medicines and bigger hospitals help those who are in pain. Smallpox, from which I almost died, is no longer a threat.

No one owns slaves anymore. The farms work well without them. Good people should not judge by skin color. All these changes, I think, are for the better.

There have been changes for the worse. I am flattered by the monuments and landmarks named in honor of me, but my goal was not to gain fame and fortune. My goal was be a role model for all those presidents who would follow. Good character, honesty, and integrity should be the standard for all elected officials. The prayer of my heart is for our country always to stand as one nation under God.

People ask me what I think when I look around the country today. They expect me to answer that we have morally fallen apart; and if things don't change soon, we will see this land come to a swift end. I won't answer that way, though. I see wonderful things happening.

I wake up and look out the window to see kids on their way to school. I know when they get there they will have a caring teacher, the supplies they need, and a warm meal at noon. I have to smile when I compare this to my piece of chalk and shovel.

Later I can see my retired neighbor watering his lawn. I know he rests easier with the knowledge that he will receive a check every month. I remember a time when the elderly simply had to hope for good luck or children rich enough to support them.

Finally, I see a father arrive home from work. He strides confidently towards his home without fear of war or unfair treatment. There was a time when brother fought brother and all men were not considered equal.

If you ask me, we haven't done too bad.

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.