How Some Presidents Saw "Their" America

One reason our presidents are elected (or electable) is that the public believes in their vision of our nation. John F. Kennedy saw it as a principle for service, Ronald Reagan saw it as a triumph over Communism, George W. Bush saw it as a means against Islamic terrorism, and Barack Obama saw his vision as the need for change in politics and politicians. Visions are often merely verbal guidelines to influence Congress. Visions are all too often unrealized. And, in reading over portions of inaugural addresses over some fifty years, it is easy to recognize that, unfortunately, the old cliché that action speaks louder than words is accurate more often than not.

It is easy to see how this country has changed from the 1960s to the present just by reading the inaugural addresses of the newly elected Presidents since that time. While JFK's address is usually remembered mostly for its asking now what6 your country can do for you but what you can do for your country (asking for Peace Corps and other service), in this excerpt the emphasis is on "nations" who are presumed to be America's adversaries (mainly Russia and its satellites). Today, we are not really fighting nations as much as terrorist organizations that recognize no state but merely the objective of their own extremism in their hatred of the Judeo-Christian West. We have moved from the Cold War to the War on Terror, even as misguided as its foundation was (the invasion of Iraq which was supposedly the location of the groups who destroyed the World Trade Center towers). What has occurred is a movement to the right (until Obama) and a movement from seeking détente to instilling fear and demanding a form of patriotism which acknowledges that the god of Islam is not equal to "our" God. America has moved from proudly announcing its scientific strength and its political supremacy known as "democracy" to Bush's notion of a need to circle the wagons and repel all ideology not thoroughly "American."

Richard Nixon, dispelling the ugliness of the Vietnam war by crowing about his policy successes- his trips to Moscow and Beijing- talks rather naively about preserving a peace at a time when young Americans are killed and maimed in the jungles of Vietnam, and while contrary to Congressional war-making authority, bombs fell on Laos and Cambodia, well outside the actual theatre of war. Nixon still wields the armed might of America by threatening other nations who "impose their will on another by force' -= which is exactly what the U.S. has done, whether on native Americans, on Mexico, the Philippines and more recently on South Vietnam. Renewing our faith, as Nixon would have it, did not seem to include Watergate burglars, lies and deception in Central America and the deviousness of his cabinet ministers from John Mitchell to his disgraced Vice President Spiro Agnew.

retrospect, there are many critics of Jimmy Carter's who blame his idealism and simplicity. Yet, his desire to limit world armaments and elimination of nuclear weapons had a far more resounding effect eventually than during his Presidency.

Ronald Reagan, of course, will be mostly remembered as "the great communicator" rather than his intellect and acumen about world politics. While at the very outset of his term- even as he was delivering his first inaugural address, the American prisoners were released from the captivity in Iran0 he is credited with "ending" the cold war. His second inauguration highlighted his Administration's efforts for the strategic defense system against nuclear attack. One can sense the idea of détente looming large in his mentioning that it was time to reduce the cost of national security by reducing the need for it. His goal of total elimination of nuclear weapons has certainly resulted in the Obama Administration's agreement about nuclear arms reduction with Russian president Medvedev. But now we are facing the potential of some extremist terrorist group getting hold of nuclear weaponry and Iran's continuing to find ways and means of developing nuclear weapons as a threat to Mid-East stability. These, of course, were events not foreseen by Reagan, nor by his successor, George H.W. Bush.

The first Bush concentrated on the idea that "freedom is right" as a means of accounting for American involvement in non-democratic states. His is an economic view, offering assistance and goodwill. He is so supremely confident that America is always "right" that he proposes the notion that when America says something, America means it. Wishful thinking at best.

It was up to Bill Clinton to focus on the basis that America's greatest strength is its power of ideas. Opportunities seemed limitless then, and the negativity of the Gulf War had passed into a resurgent domestic and international economy.

The second Bush read his inaugural speech with language that was well above his actions. As a "born-again" Christian, he stressed faith, and seemed to see American democracy as a seed that would flourish in every country across the world. That world changed with 9/11 and, for his second term Bush saw himself as the protector of America and, yet, as the greatest fear-monger of them all. He suggests encouraging reform in other countries- a goal that is questionable at best, given that preceding Presidents have hailed democracy as a virtuous political example but have not hastened to implant it worldwide.

This Bushist notion was quickly dispelled by Obama's statement that America's power does not entitle us to do as we please. He changes this tone of "American democracy as the only way of successful survival" by mentioning that no apology for democracy will be offered, but that America can and will outlast its enemies.

The visions shown in this brief overview clearly demonstrate the progress and, at times the retrograding, of how America's leadership saw how America should be perceived in global politics. There is the threat of the challenge of change throughout these inaugural speeches. From obtuse crowing about personal achievement (Nixon) to visions of being a Sir Lancelot to fearful millions of Americans (Bush) to the willingness to extend a hand to unclenched fists of those who see America as a "demon (Obama). In reviewing these visions the comment of Winston Churchill comes to mind. When reminded of the problems with democracy he said to consider the alternatives. Not all our leaders were great men. Their visions were sometimes self-serving and sometimes misguided. But, the nation persevered.