# Greatest American elimination game (game thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 10, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423 "2010-02-10T15:08:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/141 "2010-02-18T18:20:38Z")
My 4th round eliminees: Henry Bergh Aaron Copland J.P. Morgan X4 Audie Murphy Edward R. Murrow Thomas Nast James K. Polk ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/142 "2010-02-18T18:50:21Z")
Time for the musicians to go: **Leonard Bernstein** : Love him but. **1 vote** **Aaron Copland** don’t even love him so **3 votes**. **George Gershwin** : Love him, **1 vote**. A movement to evict **Thomas Jefferson** , excellent, **5 votes**. I agree with **Elendil’s Heir** ’s reason and will add terrible at his own finances left his family very little he was so wasteful. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/143 "2010-02-18T19:30:55Z")
John Adams x 5 George Patton x 5 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/144 "2010-02-18T19:35:23Z")
What do people have against John Adams? Is it the Alien and Sedition Acts or something more? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/145 "2010-02-18T19:35:29Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > John Adams x 5 > George Patton x 5 What do you have against Adams? He did more than most to create this country and was a man of high principles. Is this all about the Alien and Sedition act? If so read more into it, you might be, being too harsh on him. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/146 "2010-02-18T19:52:32Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > What do people have against John Adams? Is it the Alien and Sedition Acts or something more? [He’s obnoxious and disliked.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMnGF7AyRm8&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/147 "2010-02-18T19:55:47Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > What do people have against John Adams? Is it the Alien and Sedition Acts or something more? Mostly, yes. Anyone who would willingly subvert our most cherished freedom doesn’t deserve to be listed among the Greatest Americans. High principles my ass. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/148 "2010-02-18T19:57:39Z")
Sorry about that- I didn’t even notice there was a George Marshall (My vote was for the SC Justice). John Marshall x 5 President Polk x 5 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/149 "2010-02-18T20:39:56Z")
So out of curiosity, why (J) Marshall? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/150 "2010-02-18T20:51:24Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Mostly, yes. Anyone who would willingly subvert our most cherished freedom doesn’t deserve to be listed among the Greatest Americans. High principles my ass. Did Adams request the A&S acts? Did he use them? Him, John Adams, did he deport a single Alien? It was not Adams but the damn Federalists led by Alexander Hamilton. Seriously, it was Hamilton and not Adams. Adams made a grave mistake signing the laws but that was really all he did wrong and he always takes the entire blame for them. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/151 "2010-02-18T21:12:12Z")
Getting tougher to whittle down the field, but here goes: Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein Joshua Chamberlain (though he’ll probably keep hanging around, as Chet Arthur did in the Presidential Elimination Game despite my voting pattern) Helen Keller Audie Murphy Audie Murphy George S. Patton (since his days seem numbered anyway) Will Rogers Jonas Salk (swayed by the argument that Enders, though less celebrated, deserves more credit than he’s received from the general public) John von Neumann ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/152 "2010-02-18T21:15:46Z")
Andrew Carnagie X5 JP Morgan X3 George S Patton X2 ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/153 "2010-02-18T21:24:42Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Did Adams request the A&S acts? Did he use them? Him, John Adams, did he deport a single Alien? It was not Adams but the damn Federalists led by Alexander Hamilton. Seriously, it was Hamilton and not Adams. Adams made a grave mistake signing the laws but that was really all he did wrong and he always takes the entire blame for them. Well, considering that Jefferson pardoned those imprisoned shortly after taking office, I woudn’t say that Adams was blameless here. And, yes, he did sign them. Saying that Adams should be considered a Great American in spite of the Sedition Act is like saying Nixon should be considered a Great American in spite of Watergate. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/154 "2010-02-18T21:36:18Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Well, considering that Jefferson pardoned those imprisoned shortly after taking office, I woudn’t say that Adams was blameless here. And, yes, he did sign them. > > Saying that Adams should be considered a Great American in spite of the Sedition Act is like saying Nixon should be considered a Great American in spite of Watergate. To each their own, I firmly believe no Adams, no US. He was as important as Washington (his choice by the way for General of the Army) and Jefferson and Franklin. Not a great President, I won’t argue that, but he also effectively started our Navy. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/155 "2010-02-18T21:47:15Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > To each their own, I firmly believe no Adams, no US. He was as important as Washington (his choice by the way for General of the Army) and Jefferson and Franklin. Not a great President, I won’t argue that, but he also effectively started our Navy. We’ll have to agree to disagree, but no Adams = no US is…weird. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/156 "2010-02-18T22:30:19Z")
George Patton x3 Thomas Nast Audie Murphy John J. Pershing Joshua Chamberlain John Brown J.P. Morgan Henry Bergh ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/157 "2010-02-18T22:33:32Z")
On the main forum page the title of this thread read “Greatest American elimination”, and I remembered that time I ate at the new Mexican place, and…never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/158 "2010-02-19T02:11:45Z")
Five votes for Tecumseh Five votes for Sitting Bull. Also in defense of James K. Polk: I can’t see why people are voting in droves against James K. Polk-he barely survived the last round. He was the President who expanded America to the the Pacific Ocean and made it a two Ocean power. It was he who incorporated the rich states of California, Texas, the Northwest, and Southwest into America. Yes some people object to the Mexican-American War but thinking logically how well would California or Texas be today if it was under unstable and corrupt Mexican rule? Compare Tijuana and San Diego for a moment. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/159 "2010-02-19T02:16:41Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I’ve already spoken up in favor of one John (Marshall) and, although it’s probably futile, I’ll now do so for another (Kennedy). > > JFK inspired a generation to public service. He was a decorated naval hero and a Pulitzer Prize winner. He firmly committed the Federal government to the cause of civil rights even though it hurt him politically in the previously Solid (Democratic) South. He stared down Big Steel. He established the Peace Corps and boldly set the nation on course for a Moon landing by the end of the decade. He cut taxes and sparked an economic boom. He brilliantly handled the Cuban Missile Crisis. He saw to the ratification of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. He of course had many personal failings, but all in all I think Kennedy was one of the greatest Presidents of the 20th century. > > As I mentioned in the Presidential Elimination thread, if you want to read more about him, I’d recommend _The Essence of Decision_ by Graham Allison (the classic study of the Cuban Missile Crisis); _President Kennedy_ by Richard Reeves (a comprehensive but very readable overview of his administration from the perspective of 30-some years later); _Kennedy’s Wars_ by Lawrence Freedman (a British historian’s take on JFK’s diplomacy and military policies), and _A Thousand Days_ by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (a fine contemporary account by JFK’s resident intellectual). Read any or all of them, and I think you’ll come away with a higher opinion of the man. And Nixon accomplished equally as many great things yet he was defeated with nary a defender. Had Richard Nixon been elected in 1960 there would have been to Cuban Missile Crisis in the first place. Khruschev only did that because he though JFK was inexperienced and weak. Nixon established the EPA and continued numerous Great Society programs. He took America off the gold standard (a wise decision in my view) and continued desegreation. He pursued detente with the Soviet Union. He opened up China allowing for the economic boom of that country. He tried to save South Vietnam and brought a peace that could indeed have saved it had Ford been more decisive or if Nixon had remained President. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/160 "2010-02-19T04:10:35Z")
Henry Bergh x2 Leonard Bernstein Philo Farnsworth x2 Langston Hughes J.P. Morgan Audie Murphy Edgar Allan Poe Jim Thorpe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423.md?page=9)