It can be easy to look at historical figures for the idealized symbolism that we have been taught to see them as. Often we look at the figures to represent a great evil who wanted nothing but carnage or the hero who saved all the weak souls like we would see in simple fiction. In reality, the reading of history requires a deep comprehension of the motives and qualities of the people. They are exceptionally layered individuals who display a wide variety of qualities both positive and negative.
Insightful Leader or Authoritative President
FDR is widely considered one of the greatest American presidents. His actions during the Great Depression and the Second World War are rugged moments of leadership in 20th-century world history. Despite how you may feel about the New Deal, his actions helped lift a struggling nation out of the worst economic disaster in American history.
An interesting moment during the implementation of the New Deal was the challenges by the supreme court to the constitutionality of the reforms. FDR threatened court-packing to strong-arm the justices on the United States Supreme Court. This action by FDR was an abuse of power that was an authoritative act that subverted the rule of law. Although I look back at his fight as one that is valiant. FDR would go on to be the only president to serve longer than 2 terms as president. He was a successful leader but he has clear and problematic authoritative tendencies.
I am not saying that FDR was a terrible man who should have none of his accomplishments because he committed these power-grabbing acts. His courage and leadership were an important stabilizing force during the tumultuous times of the 30s and 40s, but we must remember that his faults with his greatness. We are lucky that FDR used his authoritative propensities towards ideals that we look back at in a positive light.
Hero of World War 2 or Bungling Beauracrat
The start of Winston Churchill’s career was littered with mistakes that impacted millions of people. His detest for Gandhi during the Indian nationalist movement was disgusting and his comments were terrible and bordering on racism. Another one of his despicable acts was his thoughts on the use of Poison gas:
“I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes,”
- Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill was also the leader who commanded the United Kingdom when they were faced with insurmountable odds during the blitz of London. He willed the nation through the darkest of times to fight the evil that Nazi Germany and Hitler were.
“[H]e inspired a nervous and hesitant Britain through his sheer energy and force of personality to defy stark odds and never give in.”
Churchill was the lone leader who stood up the power of Germany – and with the people of London and the rest of the United Kindom at his back – he didn’t relinquish until Nazi Germany was dismantled.
The historian Sir Arthur Bryant once said, “[t]he age of giants is over” and they are over because “[e]ver since he destroyed Hitler’s despotism, our political leaders haven’t needed to be giants.” Churchill was a complex character who has deep flaws but also displayed powerful leadership that has left a lasting impact on the world. We can idolize his leadership and herald him for the man he was, but we must not be ignorant of the flaws that even the greatest historical figures have.
Great man history is a lazy way to analyze our past and it fails to convey the complexity of human nature. History is made up of the decisions made by people and the motivations of these people which do not share the simplicity of a fairy tale. Evil is not always evil and good is not always good. Humans make decisions based on a complex set of biases, flaws, and strengths which means we can rarely call our hero’s the embodiment of success and perfection.
