By TERRY GOLDMAN
Los Alamos

I learned a lot about US history growing up in Canada, and although I immigrated and eventually became an American 40 years ago, which required me to learn more about The Constitution and US history than most American high schoolers are reported to retain, I am having a problem with history and would like some help.

Can anyone tell me of any past American President whom they can imagine would not, under conditions of “war” as the pandemic is being described, fail to address the Nation and call on every citizen to help protect each other from the invading enemy? I am thinking about things like a duty to wear a mask in public, to try to keep 6 feet apart and to wash your hands, frequently.

These all seem less onerous than joining the military and carrying other weapons. And also to buy as much as you can afford, contribute to food banks and shelters, give what you  can to charitable organizations, … that sort of thing. Being free, many Americans are doing these things without even being asked.

But despite some very much less than stellar past Presidents, I cannot imagine any one of them failing the country this way.

Please help if you can think of one. The truly great Presidents were those concerned about the country as a whole, not just about the people who voted for them. Maybe those Presidents are the only ones that are clearly remembered?