I am firmly in the keep Hamilton camp. Dump Old Hickory or US Grant. Grant's probably the best choice actually.
Sounds to me like Reagan would have protested replacing Hamilton with himself.
The best tribute to Reagan would be to put his visage on a gold coin, not this fiat crap.
Whatever the pros and cons of a Reagon $10 bill, I think its immaterial what Reagon would have wanted. What is germane, however, is how we now, today, want to pay respect to one of our greatest Presidents. To use this argument, is to put forth the opinion that he should not be on it.
Someone a day or so ago suggested putting Reagan on the quarter. Washington already has the dollar bill -- so we're not axing anyone from currency -- and the quarter is arguably the most useful and circulated coin we have. I like it.
Between the time the Revolutionary War was over and the ratification of the Constitution, Hamilton defended a Loyalist against a state law in New York which was nothing less than legal retribution. Hamilton argued that, since the law was designed to punish a Political Class, and could not be applied to everyone equally, it was unjust and the court had a moral obligation to refuse to uphold the law.
He won that pre-Constitution case.
Let's put him on a $1000 bill, which is bound to increase in circulation in the future (given the inevitable advance of inflation).
For those who missed C-Span this morning with Grover Norquist, a caller intimated that one of the reasons that Hamilton was being targeted for removal is because he may have some black heritage (via his Carribean roots).
Trying to get Norquist to acknowledge this heritage, even Brian Lamb had to explain to him the story of this assertion. Whether it's true or not is still open for debate unless or until they do a DNA test...but it is great ammo for the left to attack the mean, racist Republicans.
I heard for the first time today of the theory that Hamilton was part Black and if he was replaced on the 10 by Reagan, it would upset the Blacks.