Boy Kid Wonder Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 I am required to do a speech/research project over the next couple of days. I need to pick a person that is greatly influential to America. At first I was doing Jospeh Smith, but he is pretty gosh darn boring to be honest. I am looking for someone that has had a tragic yet crazy life. Like Charles Guiteu, but he is taken and I can't. Thanks for anyone who helps. P.S Please say a little something about the person if you do offer suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Hunter S. Thompson? A counterculture journalist who took his own life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chayesh Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raargant Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 I gotta go with King, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boy Kid Wonder Posted February 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Hrm..Anyone else? hehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chayesh Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Exciting, yet tragic, life. Influential to America. Still keep coming back to Dr. King. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boy Kid Wonder Posted February 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Alright, take out exciting and put crazy or insane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chayesh Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Howard Hughes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneak Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Jerry Springer - the root of modern general american mentality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rairen Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Abraham Lincoln. Or, if you're looking for someone a little less mainstream: Howard Hughes Edit: Pfft. Edit your post while I'm posting, really. Lincoln had a miserable life. I mean, really, really miserable, but people love him for what he accomplished and how he did it, even today. Hughes was the subject of The Aviator which came out last year. He was also half-crazy, egomaniacal, and had a huge role in the development of the modern aviation industry. He's crazy fun to read about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warpnow Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Howard Hughes is kickass, but they just made a movie, so to many people will have that image of him and be unimpressed. King's good, too, but he is an idol...almost a god, you can't impress people with him, they expect divinity. Lemme think more and I will give a suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginig Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 You can also hit Rosa parks if the King is done... she started the revolution for the black movement. You can put pretty much any president (including bush HA) they always have some impact You can get bill gates. Changed the world not just america through his technological advancement of all computer systems. You can hit FORD... who started the assembly line and made cheaper labour. Those are just a couple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister E Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 How bout John Madden? or CHUCK NORRIS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warpnow Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 I would like to second the notion about Bill Gates. Even if he didn't invent alot of things, he made them available to the general public at an affordable price. Very similar to what ford did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boy Kid Wonder Posted February 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 But would it be an interesting speech? Would it keep the attention of 16-17 year olds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raargant Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 John Wilkes Booth. Had a reputation for being a fantastic and compelling orator...and definitely an interesting subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghrialton Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Here's a few that probably haven't been taken, and are pretty interesting. Nikola Tesla John Forbes Nash Charles Babbage Edit: Babbage wasn't American, but was definately influental. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chayesh Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 John Wilkes Booth. Had a reputation for being a fantastic and compelling orator...and definitely an interesting subject. Huh? The guy was a second rate actor who shot Lincoln. Are you thinking of the right guy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raargant Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Whoops, sorry, I meant John Brown. All the Lincoln stuff messed my head up with regards to John's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boy Kid Wonder Posted February 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Alright thanks all. I got quite a few ideas now. Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrek Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 i can't believe no one said poe or some of the founding fathers who lost everying in the revolution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jb5679 Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Mark Twaine is actually a good subject if you look into his history, not terribly 'tragic', but... interesting. Also, JFK could probably be put into the mix if you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-D&Der Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Bill Haywood--leader of the Industrial Workers of the World, a radical labor union, who had to flee to Russia in the 1920s. Or Emma Goldman, anarchist stripped of her citizenship during World War I. For Haywood you could read Bill Haywood's Book. Goldman had an autobiography called I believe Living My Life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneak Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Personally I would write about Luther Vandross - he is fat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorCleric Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 James K. Polk For more information please see They Might Be Giants' Song: James K. Polk WC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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