# Greatest American elimination game (setup thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145 "2010-01-31T19:15:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/21 "2010-02-01T02:28:33Z")
Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/22 "2010-02-01T05:40:51Z")
Those who’ve died since 2000 (Borlaug, Berle, Brando, Cronkite and Parks) are disqualified, as noted above (as is Graham, who’s still alive). > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > [Frederick Douglass](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass) > [William Lloyd Garrison](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lloyd_Garrison) > [James Madison](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison) > [George Marshall](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Marshall) > [Harriet Tubman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman) Please give me descriptions for each of no more than three words each, as requested in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/23 "2010-02-01T07:55:25Z")
John Brown: righteous, inspirational abolitionist Walt Disney: animator, entrepreneur, icon Henry Ford: inventor, industrialist, philanthropist Franklin D. Roosevelt: fearless forthright forerunner Can I keep one nomination in reserve in case I get inspired later? By the way, it seems unfair that first nominator control the “three word description.” I had trouble finding 3 words for Franklin, so just went with alliteration. By another way, should Einstein be demoted because most of his greatness came before his citizenship? If not, I’ll definitely be supporting him all the way. ---
**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 1, 2010, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/24 "2010-02-01T10:12:45Z")
Frederick Douglass: abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison: abolitionist James Madison: Constitution author George Marshall: general, statesman Harriet Tubman: underground railroad ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/25 "2010-02-01T10:44:44Z")
Most of my original ideas have been taken, so: Andrew Carnegie - industrialist, philanthropist (I assume he was a naturalized citizen?) Leonard Bernstein - composer, conductor, educator Aaron Copland - the American sound Edward R Murrow - broadcaster ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/26 "2010-02-01T14:28:23Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > …Andrew Carnegie - industrialist, philanthropist (I assume he was a naturalized citizen?)… According to Wiki, he immigrated to the U.S. from Scotland when he was 13. No indication that he ever became a U.S. citizen, but I assume he did, and he certainly made a name for himself here and not in Scotland, so he’s a valid nominee. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/27 "2010-02-01T15:00:21Z")
John D. Rockefeller-the first billionaire Jim Henson-beloved children’s programmer Babe Ruth-legendary baseball icon Elvis Presley-rock and roller Frederick Chapman Robbins-pediatrician, Nobel Laureate ---
**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 1, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/28 "2010-02-01T15:04:01Z")
Charles Lindbergh - aviator, American hero Jesse Owens - famed Olympic athlete ---
**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 1, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/29 "2010-02-01T15:10:34Z")
One more: Jonas Salk - polio vaccine inventor ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/30 "2010-02-01T15:25:46Z")
This is going to be one long list… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/31 "2010-02-01T17:31:16Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > …By another way, should Einstein be demoted because most of his greatness came before his citizenship? If not, I’ll definitely be supporting him all the way. From the OP: “Naturalized (but not honorary) U.S. citizens are eligible for nomination, even if they were more famous for things done as citizens of another country.” **KennerTheGreat** , Frederick Chapman Robbins died within the last ten years. You may nominate someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/32 "2010-02-01T17:59:21Z")
Ralph Hanley (or Hinkley), dead since 1983. The Greatest American Hero. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/33 "2010-02-01T18:30:12Z")
Fictional characters aren’t eligible. :rolleyes: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/34 "2010-02-01T18:31:45Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > From the OP: “Naturalized (but not honorary) U.S. citizens are eligible for nomination, even if they were more famous for things done as citizens of another country.” > > **KennerTheGreat** , Frederick Chapman Robbins died within the last ten years. You may nominate someone else. D’oh! Sorry about that. In which case, I nominate: John Franklin Enders-father, modern vaccines ---
**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 1, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/35 "2010-02-01T18:48:31Z")
> [@](#): > > This is going to be one long list… So far: John Adams: statesman Susan B. Anthony: Activist Lucille Ball: actor, comedian, redhead Leonard Bernstein - composer, conductor, educator John Brown: righteous, inspirational abolitionist Andrew Carnegie - industrialist, philanthropist George Washington Carver: Agricultural botanist Carrie Chapman Catt: Women’s Rights Suffragist Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain): Humorist, “Huckleberry Finn” Aaron Copland - the American sound Walt Disney: animator, entrepreneur, icon Frederick Douglass: abolitionist Thomas Edison: inventor, workaholic Albert Einstein: Scientist, Activist John Franklin Enders: modern vaccines Richard Feynman: Physicist, Renaissance man Henry Ford: inventor, industrialist, philanthropist Benjamin Franklin: Scientist, statesman, inventor William Lloyd Garrison: abolitionist Kurt Gödel: Mathematician-- Incompleteness theorem Alexander Hamilton: Financier, economist, statesman. Robert Heinlein: author Jim Henson-beloved children’s programmer Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence Martin Luther King Jr.: preacher, orator, humanitarian. Abraham Lincoln: president, emancipator, writer. Charles Lindbergh - aviator, American hero James Madison: Constitution author George Marshall: general, statesman John P. Morgan: financial figure Edward R Murrow - broadcaster Jesse Owens - famed Olympic athlete Edgar Allan Poe - poet, writer Elvis Presley-rock and roller Jackie Robinson: Athlete, Activist John D. Rockefeller-the first billionaire Eleanor Roosevelt: Reformer, writer, advocate. Franklin D. Roosevelt: fearless forthright forerunner Theodore Roosevelt: statesman Babe Ruth-legendary baseball icon Carl Sagan: Astronomer, popularizer Jonas Salk - polio vaccine inventor Henry David Thoreau: Poet, naturalist, philosopher Harriet Tubman: Civil Rights Advocate John von Neumann - Mathematician and scientist George Washington: president, statesman, general. Roger Williams: Stateman, Religious Figure ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/36 "2010-02-01T18:49:45Z")
[Joshua Chamberlain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Chamberlain): Civil War Hero [John J. Pershing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Pershing): Highest ranking General [Malcolm X](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X) Civil Rights Leader [Jim Thorpe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe) Native American Athlete Jimi Hendrix: Influential Musician, activist ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/37 "2010-02-01T20:25:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So far: > > John von Neumann - Mathematician and scientist I guess you took the first three words from the description I gave before I was aware of the three word rule. Once I became aware, I reworded this to “John von Neumann: mathematician, scientist, polymath” While I’m at it, I guess I’ll add Claude Shannon: Information theory father (While I admire him, it’s not really on the same scale as my previous two nominations, but, you know, I do have all those unused nominations to use up…) ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/38 "2010-02-01T20:46:37Z")
> [@ToeJam](#): > > [Joshua Chamberlain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Chamberlain): Civil War Hero > [John J. Pershing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Pershing): Highest ranking General > [Malcolm X](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X) Civil Rights Leader > [Jim Thorpe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thorpe) Native American Athlete > Jimi Hendrix: Influential Musician, activist Aside, possibly, from writing “Machine Gun” and playing one Black Panther event that I know of (the day after appearing on Dick Cavett), how was Hendrix an activist? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/39 "2010-02-01T20:57:14Z")
Let’s not get into the merits of the nominees yet, please. **Little Nemo** , thanks for the alphabetical list so far. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/40 "2010-02-01T21:14:01Z")
My five choices have all been taken, but I’ll participate in the preliminaries by throwing in a few names of note: P.T. Barnum: World’s Greatest Showman Willis Carrier: Air conditioning pioneer Dwight D. Eisenhower: War hero, president George Gershwin: Prolific, versatile composer Frank Lloyd Wright: Prairie School architect [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145.md?page=3)