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Reagan named 'Greatest American'
US television viewers handed Ronald Reagan the title of "Greatest American" ahead of legendary president and national savior Abraham Lincoln and civil rights trailblazer Martin Luther King Jr. Reagan, who died last year aged 93, headed a list of 25 contenders sorted by votes of three million viewers in a live finale to the Discovery Channel/AOL "Greatest American" campaign.Supporters credit Reagan, dubbed 'The Great Communicator' who served as president from (1981-1989) with winning the Cold War and restoring American morale after a string of foreign policy reverses. Opponents however contend that Reagan's legacy has been boosted artificially by supporters since he left office. Assassinated president Lincoln, who saved the American union from breaking up during the Civil War, came second, one place ahead of King. George Washington, the first US president was fourth. Statesman, inventor and philosopher Benjamin Franklin was fifth. Current US President George W. Bush was sixth, immediately ahead of predecessor Bill Clinton, who edged out the 'King' Elvis Presley, by one spot, despite being impeached over a sex scandal. Talk show diva Oprah Winfrey came ninth, and was top woman in the poll, results of which appeared heavily weighted towards recent American personalities. Franklin W. Roosevelt, who as president safeguarded US civilization twice, once during a cataclysmic banking crisis and then in the battle against Nazism and imperial Japan, came tenth. Other noted US luminaries failed to creep into the top 10, including evangelist Billy Graham, scientist Albert Einstein and software mogul Bill Gates. Another current hero, cyclist Lance Armstrong, about to open his quest for a seventh consecutive Tour de France after beating cancer, came in 20th place - and was the top sporting star, one place ahead of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Posted by: tipper 2005-06-29 |
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