I love the National Presidential Race, even though it is a copy of the Sausage Race in Milwaukee. There was the excitement when Teddy Roosevelt won for the 1st time EVER. The most recent story line in the Presidential Race is that a new President will partake in the race. 27th President William Howard Taft.
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| Susan Walsh |
Congratulations to William Howard Taft's family, he deserves to be idolized in a way that isn't for getting stuck in the White House bathtub only to be removed by aides using butter for lubrication. William Howard Taft was a great lawyer and a less accomplished President, losing a bid for re-election. He was the only President to later serve on the Supreme Court.
But, does Taft deserve this honor? The four other participants of the race are Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. These four presidents have their flaws, but are very highly regarded. Taft's accomplishments do not compare to winning the Revolutionary War, writing the Declaration of Independence, signing the 13 Amendment, or establishing the National Park System.
The argument for Taft is that he has strong connections to baseball, he was the first President to throw out a first pitch. Other President's might have done this if the game had been more popular at his time. We are giving credit for a ceremonial duty. What about F.D.R.? A popular president, was elected 4 times. Plus we could show some diversity by including a President in a wheelchair.
| President's Name | 2009 Final Score | Overall Ranking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2000 | ||
| Abraham Lincoln | 902 | 1 | 1 |
| George Washington | 854 | 2 | 3 |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | 837 | 3 | 2 |
| Theodore Roosevelt | 781 | 4 | 4 |
| Harry S. Truman | 708 | 5 | 5 |
| John F. Kennedy | 701 | 6 | 8 |
| Thomas Jefferson | 698 | 7 | 7 |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | 689 | 8 | 9 |
| Woodrow Wilson | 683 | 9 | 6 |
| Ronald Reagan | 671 | 10 | 11 |
| Lyndon B. Johnson | 641 | 11 | 10 |
| James K. Polk | 606 | 12 | 12 |
| Andrew Jackson | 606 | 13 | 13 |
| James Monroe | 605 | 14 | 14 |
| Bill Clinton | 605 | 15 | 21 |
| William McKinley | 599 | 16 | 15 |
| John Adams | 545 | 17 | 16 |
| George H. W. Bush | 542 | 18 | 20 |
| John Quincy Adams | 542 | 19 | 19 |
| James Madison | 535 | 20 | 18 |
| Grover Cleveland | 523 | 21 | 17 |
| Gerald R. Ford | 509 | 22 | 23 |
| Ulysses S. Grant | 490 | 23 | 33 |
| William Howard Taft | 485 | 24 | 24 |
Historians would agree with me about other Presidents being more deserving of this honor. In a C-SPAN poll completed by historians in 2009 and 2000 ranked Taft 24th. Notable Presidents I would have chosen are F.D.R.(in the wheelchair), J.F.K.(because I love initials, in a convertible), Ronald Reagan (demented and always running the wrong direction), or Andrew Jackson. Jackson, noted Native-American slayer, could be included now that the Nationals do not play in the same park as the Redskins.
Nationals you had marketing gold with Teddy Roosevelt last year and you could have ridden that train longer. Including, Taft is a attention grab that lacks good judgement on your choice of a President. Overall, I applaud the Nationals' effort in adding excitement to the ballpark experience, but choose more wisely.
At least it wasn't Millard Effing Fillmore.
ReplyDeleteA popular story for the origins of the stretch is that President William Howard Taft at a Washington Senators game in 1910 was sore from prolonged sitting and stood up to stretch. Upon seeing the chief executive stand, the rest of the spectators in attendance felt obligated to join the president in his gestures. This story is set at a far later date than the others, however.
ReplyDeleteAs to the name of the practice, there appears to be no record of the phrase "seventh-inning stretch" from before 1920. By that time the practice was already at least 50 years old.