Once on a road trip, my friend and I wasted away the long hours debating about cute boys. This is a normal girl activity, for sure. The boys in question, however, were not the likes of the Glee cast, Channing Tatum, or the Bieb (of course, that last one’s just because we’re not twelve years old). Instead, we argued over the cutest president. Out of all 43 of the United States’ political leaders, we needed to decide not which had the most successful economic platform or which left the greatest legacy. No, it was our duty as American citizens and as 19 year-old-girls to answer the all important question: hot or not?
JFK with his classically handsome face and youthful persona is an obvious answer as hot, of course. We likewise agreed that movie star Ronald Reagan was attractive—in his thirtysomethings. We mutually acknowledged that Clinton was charming, Wilson was handsome, and young McCain was sexy (even if he lost the election). We ignored such leaders as Taft (sorry about the bathtub), Nixon (too sweaty), and Jackson (too mean!). But our tastes diverged as we talked about my one true love, Baberaham Lincoln. My friend questioned my sanity when I told her I was in love with our 16th president.
She tried to convince me he was a giant. (How can a guy be too tall?) That his face was sunken-in. (He has a haunting beauty!). That he was depressed. (A little moodiness in a guy is always cute!) Despite all of her arguments, I remained firm in my affection. While I love Abe’s cute lankiness and strong jaw, it’s his personality that I most value.
As loyal as Lincoln was to the union, I know he’d be faithful to me. He fought for what he believed in and stood up for what was important to him. He was passionate and bold (have you read the Gettysburg Address?). He was also intelligent. There’s no way Abe would spend his nights watching Jersey Shore re-runs, he’d be found working hard on a paper in the PCL or reading for fun at Mozart’s. Lincoln was quite and unassuming but under his shy persona, he was strong in character. I’d be lucky to one day date a man like Abe.