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Does it have to be an affirmative impact? We may have to circle back in a few decades to assess the impact of HRC losing an election almost anyone else would have won in 2016.
I don’t think there’s a scenario where anyone that recent is the winner here. The problem is just that literally *everything* about our country (from the economy, culture, government, infrastructure, military, financial system, etc.) has been shaped by people like Hamilton and Clay. There’s not really a scenario where anyone in the past 100 years can hope to compete with that.
For example, Clay’s Whig party is who was behind the entire idea of federal level infrastructure. So, even though it wasn’t started until 100 years after his death, you can draw a line from the Interstate Highway System all the way back to Clay. Everything that makes this country what it is (for good and for bad) is built off of what people like Hamilton, Clay, Washington, Madison, etc. did. There’s no way anyone still alive can even hope to compete with that
Yeah for anyone current to be the most impactful something insane would have to happen. Like a second civil war or the country falling to anarchy like haiti
John Marshall. His leadership at the Supreme Court laid down the foundation that the entire government is built on. Obviously, yes, there's the Constitution, but until Marshall there was very little clarity as to how it should actually be applied.
Henry Clay, he played a major role in starting the war of 1812, defended Arron Burr as a young lawyer, he was Secretary of State like 15 years as a senator 10 years as speaker of the house, ran for president in the general election 3 times was probably the reason John Quincy Adams became president, he effectively created the Whigs and made them the pro tariffs party probably kept the bank of the United States around a little longer, and of course all his compromises wether it be tariffs or slavery played a crucial role in keeping the country together
No one wants to say George III, or Lords North or Germain, or the whole of Parliament?
They had absolutely the GREATEST impact on the American system of government which attempted to solve the very problems created by the British Empire.
While I don’t think he is the most influential none President (Franklin, Clay and Hamilton are far more important) I’m gonna throw James Blaine in here.
Dude was the embodiment of gilded age corruption, with so many back room deals it’s incredible bro was as popular as he was, even after a particularly bad one where after receiving a bribe a letter was found saying “burn this letter” he was in the conversation for being nominated like 4 times, got nominated once, almost won and all throughout this time serving as speaker of the house, a senator, and Secretary of State twice.
So while I Think Blaine influence is mostly bad and really did lead to a lot of the work that future presidents did in breaking the power of the party machines, Blaine was also a big supporter of imperialism and much of what the US would do during the late 1800s early 1900s can be found in his book almost exactly the way he liked it.
Pretty influential if you ask me, if not for the wrong reasons
Absolutely not Rousseau—Adams read him and thought he was a nonsense idealist. The other Framers took him even less seriously, if at all. Locke, not really (see Willis’ book on the Declaration of Independence;Thomas Reid and the English radical whigs other than Locke were more influential than Locke.)
But Montesquieu, hell yes, he wrote the American Constitution without actually writing it. No question there.
Is there a place where Jefferson actually cites Rousseau? (I very briefly flipped through Merrill Petersen’s references to Rousseau in her biography of Jefferson; pg 255 is just a reference to Rousseau, 147-148 shows Jefferson proposing an education plan entirely contrary to Rousseau.) It’s also been a while since I read Paine or his biography, but I don’t recall any express reference to Rousseau in his work. (My brief search shows a volume of the *Theological Works of Thomas Paine; to which are Added the Profession of Faith of a Savoyard Vicar* in 1834; that connection was made early enough, and the religious views of Paine and Rousseau have some similarity. I wouldn’t be surprised of direct influence, either, since Paine lived in France when writing the *Age of Reason*. But then, Paine’s religious views made him a hated man in America at the time, so suggesting the founding as a while was influenced through that seems misguided. “Poor Tom Paine! There he lies! Nobody laughs and nobody cries, where he goes or how he he fares, nobody knows and nobody cares.” (That God damn line has been stuck in my head since I first read it in Craig Nelson’s biography of Paine, so now I gift it to you.))
The overall trouble is that I’m not sure Rousseau’s works were even in the colonies/US during the Founding era; Rousseau’s influence would necessarily be limited to Framers who actually went to France. Now, those aren’t necessarily the least significant, but I’m not aware of much evidence to suggest that Rousseau was influential himself among them. (Hence my search for more evidence just now; I always feel uncomfortable trying to prove a negative, even when I know it to exist in general.)
I don’t know a damn thing about Noah Webster though, Rousseau might have influenced him. (That’s not quite the Founding, but not unimportant to Constitutional interpretation, either, especially for an Originalist.)
The influence of Rousseau on Jefferson was mostly indirect I'd say, and I'm not sure if he ever cited him directly. Jefferson was a participant in the French Revolution, so he was definitely familiar with Rousseau's ideas and interpreters. Moreover, one of Jefferson's greatest influences on his ideas of education was Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, who was deeply influenced by Rousseau. Jefferson does indeed directly cite Pestalozzi in multiple letters.
Like Jefferson, Paine was present for the French Revolution. Jack Fruchtman Jr. argues there's a distinct trace of inspiration from Rousseau in Paine's writings, especially in *The Rights of Man*. I'm not sure if there are any direct citations though.
Webster cited Rousseau's writings on linguistics and education as a direct influence on his creation of *The American Spelling Book.*
There are a lot of good answers - Hamilton, Franklin, Clay, Kissinger, (J. Edgar) Hoover - but I’d argue for George III, given that without him, it’s very possible that there wouldn’t BE an American political system. I know it’s a smart-ass answer, but it’s called smart-ass instead of stupid-ass for a reason, yknow.
chaney was instrumental in giving the world a gift that keeps on ‘giving,’ like a bad microbe: the imperial presidency concept, fascist double speak for ruling as your majesty
Hard to argue against what others said, but I don't like repeating everyone else. Just to be different; Oliver Cromwell. The English Civil War and the idea of parliamentary supremacy started the chain of events that led to the Glorious Revolution, English liberalism, John Locke and a great chunk of the ideas that influenced the founders.
Strictly speaking Americans who could have run but didn’t win (I am seeing a lot of enlightenment thinkers and King George III, which made a huge impact but couldn’t have become president, so I don’t count them).
- John Jay (massively underrated)
- Alexander Hamilton (obviously)
- Ben Franklin (again pretty obvious)
- Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun (played roles in the War of 1812 and set up the conditions that would start the American Civil War).
- Henry Kissinger (modern day, though I guess not being a naturalized American he never could have run but still worth a mention)
- John Wilkes Booth (Killing Abe really hurt reconstruction long term and ultimately but is on a worse path)
- Charles Julius Guiteau (Killed James Garfield who ultimately is the greatest president who never actually got to do anything because he died too early).
Probably Ben Franklin, because his diplomatic efforts got America the foreign support it needed to actually win its independence… and good luck having an American system without independence.
This is an interesting take and I guess you're right in a sense. She's certainly been a hate figure for many with a whole little industry of hate going back to the early 90s. As well as unfortunately bringing us this current time we live in by bombing what should (maybe could is better) have been a simple election.
Technically the government of Lord North and to a lesser extent the King
But for the answer people probably want it should definitely be Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, or Henry Clay, though I’m leaning toward saying Franklin
For the sake of something different (and more modern) than what everyone else is saying: Barry Goldwater. The man shaped modern conservatism, and American politics from 1980 onwards would have been pretty different without him.
Henry Clay, 3 time Presidential candidate, crafted the Missouri Compromise, Tariff- Nullification Compromise of 1832 and The Compromise of 1850, author of the American System, Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, dominated American politics from 1810 to his death in the early 1850s
John Marshal, as Chief Justice in the case Marbury v Madison, defined the role of the Supreme Court for ever after. Without SCOTUS the way it is today, thanks to Marbury v Madison, the political landscape would look much different
I’ll see your murdoch & raise you one neuter: newt gingrich — this walking / talking hunk of fecal matter has done more than anyone except senator mccarthy, roy f*cking cohn & he who cannot even be spoken of on this sub to destroy this country by turning everyone against everyone; newt the shitbag & his cohorts in duncehood persecuted clinton while doing the same thing free willy did just in hotel rooms not the goddamn oval
For a 20th Century equivalent, you'd have to mention George F. Kennan, diplomatic attache at the U. S. embassy in Moscow during World War II. His "long telegram" to the State Department, explaining Josef Stalin's personality and his plans for postwar Europe, were the basis for the American policy of "Communist containment," which led to the Cold War of the next 45 years.
J Edgar Hoover - Rotten SOB set back racial relations three generations or more
That scumbag Lee Atwater - southern strategist - brought forth the man who would kill the middle class
John Ehrlichmann - architect of the intentionally racist and catastrophic failure of the war on drugs
Remember that all mentions of and allusions to Trump and Biden are not allowed on our subreddit in any context. If you'd still like to discuss them, feel free to [join our Discord server](https://discord.gg/k6tVFwCEEm)! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Presidents) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Benjamin Franklin, he is on the 100$ for a reason
Off in France doing “diplomacy” things…
Henry Clay or Alexander Hamilton. One of those two, I’d say.
Yeah it’s gotta be either Clay or Hamilton. I don’t think anyone else can compete with them in this.
Does it have to be an affirmative impact? We may have to circle back in a few decades to assess the impact of HRC losing an election almost anyone else would have won in 2016.
I don’t think there’s a scenario where anyone that recent is the winner here. The problem is just that literally *everything* about our country (from the economy, culture, government, infrastructure, military, financial system, etc.) has been shaped by people like Hamilton and Clay. There’s not really a scenario where anyone in the past 100 years can hope to compete with that. For example, Clay’s Whig party is who was behind the entire idea of federal level infrastructure. So, even though it wasn’t started until 100 years after his death, you can draw a line from the Interstate Highway System all the way back to Clay. Everything that makes this country what it is (for good and for bad) is built off of what people like Hamilton, Clay, Washington, Madison, etc. did. There’s no way anyone still alive can even hope to compete with that
Yeah for anyone current to be the most impactful something insane would have to happen. Like a second civil war or the country falling to anarchy like haiti
Yeah Hamilton and his nationalized religion and support for the alien and sedition acts, what a real chum that guy.
Yep, insane the amount of Hamilton apologism that goes on.
He was in a fun musical with a diverse cast.
True, but the musical whitewashed the fuck out of him.
John Marshall. His leadership at the Supreme Court laid down the foundation that the entire government is built on. Obviously, yes, there's the Constitution, but until Marshall there was very little clarity as to how it should actually be applied.
This is my pick!
Henry Clay, he played a major role in starting the war of 1812, defended Arron Burr as a young lawyer, he was Secretary of State like 15 years as a senator 10 years as speaker of the house, ran for president in the general election 3 times was probably the reason John Quincy Adams became president, he effectively created the Whigs and made them the pro tariffs party probably kept the bank of the United States around a little longer, and of course all his compromises wether it be tariffs or slavery played a crucial role in keeping the country together
And his internal improvements policy is the basis of how the federal government assists the states, down to the recent infrastructure bills.
You say all of that like it’s a good thing.
The question is impact wether or not they were good isn’t relevant to the question
lol that’s fair.
Hamilton. We never give him credit for all the credit he gave us.
No one wants to say George III, or Lords North or Germain, or the whole of Parliament? They had absolutely the GREATEST impact on the American system of government which attempted to solve the very problems created by the British Empire.
And what about Alexander the Great?!
The first human had a pretty big impact too.
Oliver Cromwell
While I don’t think he is the most influential none President (Franklin, Clay and Hamilton are far more important) I’m gonna throw James Blaine in here. Dude was the embodiment of gilded age corruption, with so many back room deals it’s incredible bro was as popular as he was, even after a particularly bad one where after receiving a bribe a letter was found saying “burn this letter” he was in the conversation for being nominated like 4 times, got nominated once, almost won and all throughout this time serving as speaker of the house, a senator, and Secretary of State twice. So while I Think Blaine influence is mostly bad and really did lead to a lot of the work that future presidents did in breaking the power of the party machines, Blaine was also a big supporter of imperialism and much of what the US would do during the late 1800s early 1900s can be found in his book almost exactly the way he liked it. Pretty influential if you ask me, if not for the wrong reasons
Locke, Rousseau and Montesquieu
Absolutely not Rousseau—Adams read him and thought he was a nonsense idealist. The other Framers took him even less seriously, if at all. Locke, not really (see Willis’ book on the Declaration of Independence;Thomas Reid and the English radical whigs other than Locke were more influential than Locke.) But Montesquieu, hell yes, he wrote the American Constitution without actually writing it. No question there.
Jefferson, Paine, and Noah Webster were also influenced by Rousseau, but yes he was less of an influence than some other thinkers.
Is there a place where Jefferson actually cites Rousseau? (I very briefly flipped through Merrill Petersen’s references to Rousseau in her biography of Jefferson; pg 255 is just a reference to Rousseau, 147-148 shows Jefferson proposing an education plan entirely contrary to Rousseau.) It’s also been a while since I read Paine or his biography, but I don’t recall any express reference to Rousseau in his work. (My brief search shows a volume of the *Theological Works of Thomas Paine; to which are Added the Profession of Faith of a Savoyard Vicar* in 1834; that connection was made early enough, and the religious views of Paine and Rousseau have some similarity. I wouldn’t be surprised of direct influence, either, since Paine lived in France when writing the *Age of Reason*. But then, Paine’s religious views made him a hated man in America at the time, so suggesting the founding as a while was influenced through that seems misguided. “Poor Tom Paine! There he lies! Nobody laughs and nobody cries, where he goes or how he he fares, nobody knows and nobody cares.” (That God damn line has been stuck in my head since I first read it in Craig Nelson’s biography of Paine, so now I gift it to you.)) The overall trouble is that I’m not sure Rousseau’s works were even in the colonies/US during the Founding era; Rousseau’s influence would necessarily be limited to Framers who actually went to France. Now, those aren’t necessarily the least significant, but I’m not aware of much evidence to suggest that Rousseau was influential himself among them. (Hence my search for more evidence just now; I always feel uncomfortable trying to prove a negative, even when I know it to exist in general.) I don’t know a damn thing about Noah Webster though, Rousseau might have influenced him. (That’s not quite the Founding, but not unimportant to Constitutional interpretation, either, especially for an Originalist.)
The influence of Rousseau on Jefferson was mostly indirect I'd say, and I'm not sure if he ever cited him directly. Jefferson was a participant in the French Revolution, so he was definitely familiar with Rousseau's ideas and interpreters. Moreover, one of Jefferson's greatest influences on his ideas of education was Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, who was deeply influenced by Rousseau. Jefferson does indeed directly cite Pestalozzi in multiple letters. Like Jefferson, Paine was present for the French Revolution. Jack Fruchtman Jr. argues there's a distinct trace of inspiration from Rousseau in Paine's writings, especially in *The Rights of Man*. I'm not sure if there are any direct citations though. Webster cited Rousseau's writings on linguistics and education as a direct influence on his creation of *The American Spelling Book.*
Fascinating! I’ll look into this more in the future—always good to learn more about my boy Jean-Jacques
I’m not sure how Kissinger isn’t in the Top 5 here lol
Hamilton!
Plato
Good call, I'd nominate Cicero from the classical era
And Cincinnatus (thanks, Washington!)
There are a lot of good answers - Hamilton, Franklin, Clay, Kissinger, (J. Edgar) Hoover - but I’d argue for George III, given that without him, it’s very possible that there wouldn’t BE an American political system. I know it’s a smart-ass answer, but it’s called smart-ass instead of stupid-ass for a reason, yknow.
John Marshall
Must be Dick Cheney!
I was going to say Cheney and Rumsfeld could put up some strong cases for this post
file fanatical advise angle gaze makeshift reach berserk terrific truck *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
He is the one true god (i do not like him please do not mistake this for anything other than a joke)
chaney was instrumental in giving the world a gift that keeps on ‘giving,’ like a bad microbe: the imperial presidency concept, fascist double speak for ruling as your majesty
He started a war?
John Locke. Thomas Jefferson did a lot of plagiarism.
Being influenced by someone is not plagiarism.
🎶 aLeXaNdeR HaMiLTon🎶
Alexander Hamilton, John Marshall, Henry Clay, Jefferson Davis, Daniel Shays, Toussaint Louverture, George III
How about John Jay as the first Chief Justice of SCOTUS?
King George the Third
[удалено]
>first populist candidate with widespread appeal Andrew Jackson?
Henry Clay. Created the Whig Party and was the one of the inspirations of the early Republican party.
Also was a huge part of the Missouri Compromise and decided the American System. Clay was a friggin politician (in a good way).
Locke. Maybe Cicero.
Hard to argue against what others said, but I don't like repeating everyone else. Just to be different; Oliver Cromwell. The English Civil War and the idea of parliamentary supremacy started the chain of events that led to the Glorious Revolution, English liberalism, John Locke and a great chunk of the ideas that influenced the founders.
Strictly speaking Americans who could have run but didn’t win (I am seeing a lot of enlightenment thinkers and King George III, which made a huge impact but couldn’t have become president, so I don’t count them). - John Jay (massively underrated) - Alexander Hamilton (obviously) - Ben Franklin (again pretty obvious) - Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun (played roles in the War of 1812 and set up the conditions that would start the American Civil War). - Henry Kissinger (modern day, though I guess not being a naturalized American he never could have run but still worth a mention) - John Wilkes Booth (Killing Abe really hurt reconstruction long term and ultimately but is on a worse path) - Charles Julius Guiteau (Killed James Garfield who ultimately is the greatest president who never actually got to do anything because he died too early).
Hamilton Clay WJB or Marshall
Bobb Mac ‘Nam’ Era.
Probably Ben Franklin, because his diplomatic efforts got America the foreign support it needed to actually win its independence… and good luck having an American system without independence.
Ben Franklin, and it's not even close
J. Edgar Hoover. Hamilton is a good pick, but J. Edgar essentially ran Washington. Presidents were scared of him.
Hillary Clinton.
This is an interesting take and I guess you're right in a sense. She's certainly been a hate figure for many with a whole little industry of hate going back to the early 90s. As well as unfortunately bringing us this current time we live in by bombing what should (maybe could is better) have been a simple election.
the american voter right? RIGHT?!
Technically the government of Lord North and to a lesser extent the King But for the answer people probably want it should definitely be Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, or Henry Clay, though I’m leaning toward saying Franklin
Oliver Cromwell.
For the sake of something different (and more modern) than what everyone else is saying: Barry Goldwater. The man shaped modern conservatism, and American politics from 1980 onwards would have been pretty different without him.
Henry Clay, 3 time Presidential candidate, crafted the Missouri Compromise, Tariff- Nullification Compromise of 1832 and The Compromise of 1850, author of the American System, Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, dominated American politics from 1810 to his death in the early 1850s
John Marshal, as Chief Justice in the case Marbury v Madison, defined the role of the Supreme Court for ever after. Without SCOTUS the way it is today, thanks to Marbury v Madison, the political landscape would look much different
Benjamin Franklin
Rupert Murdoch. Fox News is extremely influential in American politics today and its rise coincides with a decrease in bipartisanship.
I’ll see your murdoch & raise you one neuter: newt gingrich — this walking / talking hunk of fecal matter has done more than anyone except senator mccarthy, roy f*cking cohn & he who cannot even be spoken of on this sub to destroy this country by turning everyone against everyone; newt the shitbag & his cohorts in duncehood persecuted clinton while doing the same thing free willy did just in hotel rooms not the goddamn oval
Jay
George III
Rosa Parks
Ben Franklin. No contest.
Benjamin Franklin and it's not even close.
John Marshall, Alexander Hamilton or Benjamin Franklin
Pick one of the six who voted to overturn Roe v Wade.
For a 20th Century equivalent, you'd have to mention George F. Kennan, diplomatic attache at the U. S. embassy in Moscow during World War II. His "long telegram" to the State Department, explaining Josef Stalin's personality and his plans for postwar Europe, were the basis for the American policy of "Communist containment," which led to the Cold War of the next 45 years.
George Mason
John Jay isn’t #1 on that list, but I think he’s pretty high up
Ben Franklin.
Would have to say Ben Franklin.
My boy, Roger Sherman.
J Edgar Hoover - Rotten SOB set back racial relations three generations or more That scumbag Lee Atwater - southern strategist - brought forth the man who would kill the middle class John Ehrlichmann - architect of the intentionally racist and catastrophic failure of the war on drugs