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Have you example of statesman?

Have you example of statesman?

- or -

What's it take to make person statesman rather than politician?


[See also: "The Difference Between Statesmen and Politicians" http://mike_north.tripod.com/id20.htm -  D. Michael North]
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Member_2_276102

For now, my personal favorite example of a 'statesman' is Benjamin Franklin. His contributions in the colonies plus his work in Europe as Ambassador to France could be enough to put him in consideration. His parts in establishing the University of Pennsylvania, in building and improving the postal system, in furthering the cause of slavery abolition by personal example, and in many other areas marks him as a highly effective "states"man for the U.S.A.

The nation might not exist but for his efforts. Garnering some support from France could have been enough to make the difference by itself.

Tom
>>What's it take to make person statesman rather than politician?

By standing above personal or state vested interests.

@tliotta: aprops France. When will there be a US statesman who will finally acknowledge the real contribution of LaFayette to the formation of the United States of America?
@BigRat: Is there a feeling that LaFayette has been unrecognized? It doesn't seem so from here. But I've never been overly impressed with the learnings of the general public, so maybe it's just my memories of mentions of his place in our history.

Also, I suspect that the general perspective of many current (and very recent) US "statesmen" has been excessively turned inward, with little acknowledgement of the other 95% of the world. Still, there have been a few who've spoken on his behalf, perhaps most notably... Benjamin Franklin.
Avatar of Scott Pletcher
1) George C. Marshall: the most underappreciated and under-valued statesman and soldier of WW II.

2) George Washington (obviously!)
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