Who is the greatest American* of all time?

Meant to say that it's obvious to anyone who knows American history, that it is George Washington.

It is Washington. This is not even a difficult call.

Skrillex

California Chrome (or his owners). True patriots.

Froning. He's surpassed all Americans in terms of being RIPPED and SHREDDED.

Pat Tillman

Only Abe born in the good old US of A.

trackcoach wrote:

It is almost impossible to you pick between these 3, but it is certainly one of them:

- Abraham Lincoln - Preserved the Union and abolished slavery.

- George Washington - Our nation's first chief executive in the fight for independence and our government.

- Thomas Jefferson - Primary architect of the Declaration of Independence and our system of government.

gipper wrote:

Reagan. Ended communism.

The fact that many Americans today actually believe this is very scary.

Any antebellum president except the John and Quincy Adams

is not worthy for consideration and should be in the hall of infamy

for crimes against humanity.I nominate two for greatest American.

The great Nat Turner and the great John Brown whose spirit still

marches on.

Notorious B.I.G.

RunAnnArbor wrote:

Because of the 'has to be born in the United States' caveat, I interpreted the OP's intent as 'Greatest American runner' of all time.

For me, that's Jim Ryun. He was beautiful, elegant, dominant, and ahead of his time. I've posted in the past that if there were one 'now and then' race I'd like to see...it would be Jim Ryun versus Hicham El Guerrouj.

If the OP's intent was indeed, simply 'greatest American of all time'...then I reckon I'd go with Abraham Lincoln. He held the country together at great personal cost.

Agreed that Ryun vs. Guerrouj, if Ryun had Guerrouj's training, would be a fantastic race. As to who the best US distance runner is, I have no clue. Jesse Owens is the greatest American track athlete, period.

Oh, yeah wrote:

Bob Dylan

I like your answer.

(It's also correct.)

Ralph Nader.

I'm somewhat serious about that.

ryan foreman wrote:

Ralph Nader.

I'm somewhat serious about that.

I like where your head's aat, compadre.

Americans do not have to be born in the United States.

Jerry Seinfeld

Yes, I immediately thought of either George Marshall or this guy, Norman Borlaug, who probably saved more humans from starvation than any other :

Churchill called Marshall Aid after WWII "the most unselfish act......in history".

Borlaug or Marshall - both of these dignified men seem far better choices than many in this thread.

Though, Jefferson, Washington, Lincoln, MLK are all good choices too.

trackcoach wrote:

It is almost impossible to you pick between these 3, but it is certainly one of them:

- Abraham Lincoln - Preserved the Union and abolished slavery.

- George Washington - Our nation's first chief executive in the fight for independence and our government.

- Thomas Jefferson - Primary architect of the Declaration of Independence and our system of government.

Looks like it has to be Abraham Lincoln. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were born before the United States was a country.

I think the person would have to be born after 1776 to avoid any asterisk and to be now dead - to have a complete life where they can't mess up.

And I would exclude any politician.

So I am going with Samuel Clemons - aka Mark Twain.

He was the total American.

Traveled all over the country, living in different areas from Missouri to San Fransico to New York to Connecticut.

Held all kinds of jobs. Made money. Lost money. Made it back.

Made a name that will live on with his famous writings.

The first book I read was Tom Sawyer. I loved "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,". And Huckleberry Finn was required reading in high school.

I never read much but loved his writing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain