I'm trying to decide between MLK and Abe. Both were leaders
under a time of great duress in our nation - both continuing
battles related to civil rights and both coming from poor
backgrounds. In some sense, Abe's battle wasn't just about civil
liberties for all - a lot had to do with states' rights and the
emancipation proclamation was partially about rallying the
blacks to fight for the union - IMHO. Both may have had greater
impact with their deaths - impossible to tell since they didn't
get to lead the rest of the way. Reagan may have helped the
downfall of communism, but I think it would have fallen
eventually. If anything, it may have happened slower, which may
have actually ended up easing the break up of the USSR. As
someone else mentioned, George Washington was one of several
founding fathers and just happened to become our 1st president.
If I recall correctly, other presidents also signed the
Declaration of Independence and served in a governing position.
Ben Franklin was also a great man and of impo