Five American Presidents Who Praised Robert E. Lee
Highlighting numerous quotes from prestigious historical figures who admired and revered Robert E. Lee
Last week, what remained of a statue of Robert E. Lee was melted down and destroyed in an undisclosed location. The statue was previously at the center of attention during the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” protests of 2017 and was removed from its place four years later, in June 2021. The famous work of art depicting Lee astride his beloved horse, Traveller, is now gone forever.
Those who defend this destruction of Lee’s image attempt to justify it on the grounds that Lee, in their eyes, was merely a “traitor” and slaveholder who was responsible for leading hundreds of thousands of men to die for an “evil” cause. Hence, they argue that statues dedicated to Lee must be torn down, or, in this case, melted.
But this ahistorical description of Lee is egregious at best and an outright lie at worst.
In his time, Lee was highly respected and revered by both sides of the Civil War. Lincoln and Grant held a deep respect for him. Americans after the conflict regarded Lee as an American hero alongside Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. Contrary to what today’s leaders might have to say about General Lee, numerous American presidents spoke highly of the Confederate leader. They praised Lee for his military prowess and upstanding leadership and expressed admiration for his integrity, courage, faith, and honor.
The purpose of this piece is to highlight those men and what they said about Lee so as to display the blatant divide between how Americans used to view Lee and how they view him now. Without further ado, here are quotes from five American presidents who held the Southern gentleman in high esteem.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) served as the 26th president of the United States. Roosevelt was certainly one of the most interesting characters ever to obtain the presidency, as he was noted for his dauntless adventurism, unlimited courage, and indomitable spirit. In the years before becoming commander-in-chief, Roosevelt distinguished himself as a soldier in the Spanish-American War. Most notably, Roosevelt led an elite group known as the “Rough Riders” into battle up San Juan Hill in Cuba, earning himself widespread fame back home as a war hero.
In a letter addressed to a committee arranging the celebration of Robert E. Lee’s 100th birthday, President Roosevelt applauded the memory of Lee:
General Lee has left us the memory, not merely of his extraordinary skill as a general, his dauntless courage and high leadership in campaign and battle, but also of that serene greatness of soul characteristic of those who most readily recognize the obligations of civic duty. Once the war was over he instantly under took the task of healing and binding up the wounds of his countrymen, in the true spirit of those who feel malice toward none and charity toward all; in that spirit which from the throes of the Civil War brought forth the real and indissoluble Union of to-day.
Roosevelt then praised Lee’s life after the war and the paths he took to help produce peace and educate the youth of the South as president of Washington College (now known as Washington and Lee University):
It was eminently fitting that this great man, this war-worn veteran of a mighty struggle, who, at its close, simply and quietly undertook his duty as a plain, every-day citizen, bent only upon helping his people in the paths of peace and tranquility, should turn his attention toward educational work; toward bringing up in fit fashion the younger generation, the sons of those who had proved their faith by their endeavor in the heroic days… From the close of the war to the time of his death all his great powers were devoted to two objects: to the reconciliation of all his countrymen with one another, and to fitting the youth of the South for the duties of a lofty and broad-minded citizenship.
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford (1913-2006) was America’s 38th President, rising to the presidency after Nixon was conquered by Watergate. Prior to becoming president, Ford enlisted in the Navy after Pearl Harbor and served his country bravely during the war, earning ten battle stars for participation in numerous engagements.
Delivering remarks before signing a bill that restored full rights of citizenship to Lee on August 5, 1975, Ford recognized Lee’s efforts to pursue peaceful relations and reconciliation after the end of the Civil War:
Once the war was over, he firmly felt the wounds of the North and South must be bound up. He sought to show by example that the citizens of the South must dedicate their efforts to rebuilding that region 'of the country as a strong and vital part of the American Union.
Ford went on to highlight Lee “as the symbol of valor and of duty.”
As a soldier, General Lee left his mark on military strategy. As a man, he stood as the symbol of valor and of duty. As an educator, he appealed to reason and learning to achieve understanding and to build a stronger nation. The course he chose after the war became a symbol to all those who had marched with him in the bitter years towards Appomattox.
FDR
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) served as America’s 32nd president and was elected an unprecedented four times. Leading the country through the Great Depression and the Second World War, he solidified his place in American history as one of the nation’s most famous and impactful leaders.
On June 12, 1936, Roosevelt unveiled the Robert E. Lee Memorial Statue in Dallas, Texas. Before the unveiling, he described Lee in his remarks as one of the “greatest” Americans:
All over the United States we recognize him as a great leader of men, as a great general. But, also, all over the United States I believe that we recognize him as something much more important than that. We recognize Robert E. Lee as one of our greatest American Christians and one of our greatest American gentlemen.
Lyndon Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) was America’s 36th president. While in office, he signed into law the Civil Rights Act (1964), expanded the welfare state, led a failed “War on Poverty,” and massively escalated American involvement in the Vietnam War. Before the madness of the ‘60s, Johnson became the first member of Congress to volunteer for military service in World War II.
On October 9, 1964, President Johnson spoke at a fundraising dinner in New Orleans and commended Lee as a “great son of the South” and a uniting figure for all Americans:
If we are to heal our history and make this Nation whole, prosperity must know no Mason-Dixon line and opportunity must know no color line. Robert E. Lee, a great son of the South, a great leader of the South--and I assume no modern day leader would question him or challenge him--Robert E. Lee counseled us well when he told us to cast off our animosities, and raise our sons to be Americans.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) served as the 34th President of the United States and was one of America’s leading generals during the Second World War. Made a full general in 1943 and appointed Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force later in the year, Eisenhower spearheaded, supervised, and planned the most ambitious aspects of the war, such as Operation Torch (the Allied invasion of North Africa) and the infamous D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe in 1944.
On August 1, 1960, a disapproving citizen wrote President Eisenhower a letter in which he demanded an explanation as to why the general had a portrait of Robert E. Lee in his office. (Eisenhower had four pictures in his office of whom he deemed the “four greatest Americans.”)
In response, Ike produced the most powerful defense of Lee ever written by an American president. Part of the letter reads:
General Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause which until 1865 was still an arguable question in America; he was a poised and inspiring leader, true to the high trust reposed in him by millions of his fellow citizens; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men, forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious, unrelenting and personally courageous in battle, and never disheartened by a reverse or obstacle. Through all his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his faith in God. Taken altogether, he was noble as a leader and as a man, and unsullied as I read the pages of our history.
Ike ended the letter thus:
From deep conviction, I simply say this: a nation of men of Lee’s calibre would be unconquerable in spirit and soul. Indeed, to the degree that present-day American youth will strive to emulate his rare qualities, including his devotion to this land as revealed in his painstaking efforts to help heal the Nation’s wounds once the bitter struggle was over, we, in our own time of danger in a divided world, will be strengthened and our love of freedom sustained.
Such are the reasons that I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall.
Sincerely,
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Today, it is simply unimaginable for a leader in politics to talk about Robert E. Lee in this way. Anyone who would be brave enough to do so would inevitably be branded a ‘racist’ and bullied into withdrawing their remarks. But it wasn’t always like this. Lee used to be highly respected by a sizable majority of Americans for being a man of faith and for staying true to his principles, and those who publicly admired Lee were safe from cancellation.
American leaders and citizens alike saw Robert E. Lee as the quintessential Southern gentleman and soldier, who, despite his fault as a slaveholder, was a great and honest man who fought for his people and state. Whatever the actions of today’s iconoclasts, this true memory of Lee will never be lost. Many Americans still consider Lee to be one of the greatest and most courageous leaders to come out of the Civil War, if not the greatest.
Leaders of the past more or less agreed. Teddy Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, Lyndon Johnson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower weren’t the only ones. Harry Truman considered Lee to be one of his heroes. Winston Churchill described the Confederate leader as “one of the noblest Americans who ever lived.” Ronald Reagan lauded Lee as an “American legend.” John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter, among countless others, venerated Lee as well.
It is a travesty what is happening in our country today. You would think there would be someone strong and brave enough to put an end to this madness. I hope he comes along soon because time is running out I believe.