The United States of America has long existed as one of the most powerful nations in the world for a very long time.
And in these long years, some of America's most outstanding presidents have undeniably influenced the world with their top-notch eloquence of speech.
Whether in times of war, political uncertainty, or economic boom, these presidents understood the task and led from the front.
Let's look at our list of five American presidents and their proudest words with iconic relevance to History.
George Washington (President from 1789-1797)
It is an easy guess that the first name on the list is the first-ever President of the United States.
Washington was one of the Founding Fathers of America and was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, the war to emancipate North American colonies from British imperial rule.
He also presided over the constitutional convention in 1787, where the United States Constitution was created.
In a letter to the President of Congress, John Hancock, in 1776, Washington said:
Three things prompt men to a regular discharge of their duty in time of action: natural bravery, the hope of reward, and fear of punishment.
This was part of a call to action for more devoted soldiers to be enlisted into the American Continental Army.
Abraham Lincoln (President from 1861-1865)
One of America's most iconic Presidents and the subject of many box office movies - biographical and fiction based - Lincoln was the 16th President of America.
His popularity - and relevance - in today's world is partly because of (but not restricted to) his well-documented aversion to slavery.
Lincoln promoted the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, effectively abolishing slavery.
During one of the best-known and most influential American history speeches, the Gettysburg Address, delivered at the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg (November 19, 1863) during the American Civil War, Lincoln had some of his most famous words.
He concluded thus:
"That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth"
Harry S. Truman (President from 1945-1953)
Harry S. Truman served as the 33rd President of the United States. He started his presidential journey as the 34th vice president of the nation; He would spend just four months in that role before stepping in as President to replace President Franklin D. Roosevelt after his death.
Truman was immediately plunged into the thick of things. He had tough decisions, like the one that led to the establishment of NATO (in the aftermath of World War II) and the decision to launch nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Truman's tenure as President may have been almost entirely by America's involvement in various conflicts worldwide.
Still, one of his famous quotes aptly captured his mindset on leadership when he said:
"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.".
Bill Clinton (President from 1993-2001)
One of America's most charismatic leaders yet, Bill Clinton served as the 42nd president and oversaw a period of impressive growth in the economy.
President Clinton is the husband to Hillary Clinton, who also ran for the presidency as the Democrat candidate in 2016 but lost out to Donald Trump.
Clinton's legacy includes law signing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He is the third-youngest American President to have been elected into office.
He is famous for saying:
"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit."
Barack Obama (President from 2009-2017)
Barack Hussein Obama II was elected to office as the 44th president of the United States of America in 2009, becoming the first African American President of the great nation.
His time as President saw many important bills passed into law; the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 'Obamacare' as it was called, and the Job Creation Act are just a few of such bills passed.
Obama was responsible for sanctioning the military raid that ended the life of Osama bin Laden the al-Qaeda founder and sanctioning and supporting many other foreign policies that called for mixed reviews over the years.
Obama famously said:
"The future rewards those who press on. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. I don't have time to complain. I'm going to press on."
His eloquence and penchant for delivering inspiration through his speech was stand-out trait throughout his tenure as President.
Conclusion
The USA has had many great leaders since becoming the 'land of the free. The exploits of these great leaders came at a price, paid in many forms and at many times.
Which President on our list inspired you the most? Consider adding a name outside this list and your favorite quote from them.
