That is my take.. Without Washington, there would have been no Reagan.. I'm glad Reagan won, however, I think Washington should have been the top choice.. No offense to the Gipper..
The Greatest American on one of the most important days in American history - The Battle of Princeton, New Jersey, January 3, 1777.
(excerpt from "The Life of George Washington" by Washington Irving - 1888)
"....At this moment Washington himself arrived at the scene of action, having galloped from the by-road in advance of his troops. From a rising ground he beheld Mercer's troops retreating in confusion and the detachment of the militia checked by Mawhood's artillery.
Everything was at peril. Putting spurs to his horse he dashed past the retreating militia, waving his hat and cheering them on. His commanding figure and white horse made him a conspicuous object for the enemy marksmen; but he heeded it not. Galloping forward under the fire of Mawhood's battery, he called upon Mercer's broken brigade. The Pennsylvanians rallied at the sound of his voice and caught fire from his example. At the same time the 7th Virginia regiment emerged from the wood, and moved forward with loud cheers, while a fire of grape shot was opened by Capt. Moulder of the American artillery, from a brow of a ridge to the south.
Col. Mawhood, who a moment before had thought his triumph secure, found himself assailed on every side, and seperated from the other British regiments. He fought however with great bravery, and for a short time the action was desperate. Washington was in the midst of it; equally endangered by the random fire of his own men, and the artillery and musketry of the enemy. His aide-de-camp Col. Fitzgerald, a young and ardent Irishman, losing sight of him in the heat of the fight when enveloped in dust and smoke, dropped the bridle on the neck of his horse and drew his hat over his eyes; giving him up for lost. When he saw him however, emerge from the cloud, waving his hat, and beheld the enemy giving way, he spurred up to his side. "Thank God" cried he "your excellency is safe !" "Away my dear colonel and bring up the troops" was the reply; "the day is our own !"