Jeff WlodarczakAmong all presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt are considered the best presidents in our nation's history. Abraham Lincoln towers above all. During his presidency was the time when the republic began to fall apart but he reemerged as the United States we know today. “Abraham Lincoln was an unusually competent politician and a strong wartime commander in chief. He is an unparalleled national treasure, a legend who best represents the democratic ideal.” (Abraham Lincoln, George McGovern). Although Franklin Roosevelt was a four-term statesman, his successes in leading the nation through the Depression and World War are still appreciated today. “(Roosevelt) was more tested in peace and war than any president other than Lincoln. Although often seen as a patrician among professional politicians, he was perhaps the most skilled politician of all. (Franklin Delano Roosevelt Roy Jenkins). The similarities between Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt are greater than those of any two presidents. Both presidents changed American society, had similar ideas about war, and both gave famous speeches that changed the world. Abraham Lincoln did a lot to change America. During the third year of the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation stated that "all persons held as slaves" within the rebel states "are, and henceforth shall be free." This was the first step in giving freedom to African Americans. The proclamation announced the acceptance of African Americans into the union army, which greatly helped the union win the war. Abraham Lincoln changed the United States for the better By creating the Emancipation Proclamation...middle of paper...he is similar to Franklin Roosevelt who created a new deal with programs such as: the Emergency Banking Act, Bankruptcy Administration civil works and the federal emergency relief program. Both presidents also had similar wartime strategies. Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of Habeas Corpus which was somewhat similar to what Roosevelt did by sending Japanese men and women, and children to internment camps for fear of an attack on the West Coast. Both presidents also tried everything they could to regroup from the war and both men contributed to the war effort. Both presidents had similar ideas about campaigning and winning over the people. Abraham Lincoln spoke across the nation to express his opinions, and Roosevelt used the “Firseide Chats” to let the world know what was happening. Both Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt had very similar beliefs and demonstrated it in their work.