Government quote by Will Rogers

"Ohio claims they are due a president as they haven't had one since Taft. Look at the United States, they have not had one since Lincoln"

About this Quote

Will Rogers, with his trademark wit and satire, offers a layered commentary on American politics and leadership in his quip about Ohio and the United States’ presidents. On its surface, the humor plays on state pride and the long-standing tradition of Ohio as a “Mother of Presidents,” highlighting Ohioans' claim that they are “due” for another president since their last, William Howard Taft, left office in 1913.

Rogers amplifies Ohio’s light-hearted sense of entitlement by slyly shifting the perspective to the entire country. He asserts, “Look at the United States, they have not had one since Lincoln.” The implication is that, if Ohioans think they’ve been deprived, the nation as a whole is in an even worse predicament, suggesting, with a tongue-in-cheek exaggeration, that America has not produced a truly great or authentic president since Abraham Lincoln. Rogers isn’t literally claiming every president after Lincoln was unworthy; instead, he’s lampooning both local parochialism and the frequent disappointment Americans express in their political leaders.

By referencing Lincoln, Rogers invokes the nearly mythic status the 16th president holds in American consciousness. Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War and his role in abolishing slavery make him an enduring yardstick against whom all successors are measured. Saying the nation “has not had [a president] since Lincoln” pokes fun at the tendency to idealize the past and denigrate the present, hinting at a collective nostalgia that overlooks both the strengths and flaws of more recent leaders.

Ultimately, Rogers’ joke is a critique of both regional competitiveness and American political cynicism. He exposes the perpetual dissatisfaction embedded in the culture, where political heroes become increasingly rare in hindsight, and every group believes it is owed something by the nation’s political process. The humor lies in the exaggeration, but the underlying message is about the impossibility of ever satisfying everyone with those chosen to lead.

About the Author

Will Rogers This quote is from Will Rogers between November 4, 1879 and August 15, 1935. He was a famous Actor from USA, the quote is categorized under the topic Government. The author also have 99 other quotes.
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