DBWI: Your opinion of President Benedict Arnold

OOC: the PoD for this is that General Horatio Gates died at the First Battle of Saratoga in 1777, and was thus unable to screw over Arnold. Butterflies improve his health later in life, leading to a later death.

IC: On this, the 200th anniversary of the death of US President Benedict Arnold, I ask, what is your opinion of the man, and of his term in office as the second President of the United States of America?
 
The relations he established with Britain were idiotic. They only ensured we alienated France and straddled our way between conflict and peace with the powers of Europe in the early years of the 19th century.
 
Of course the French were alienated by that policy! That was the point!
Do you think the Consuls would have given America such great terms for the Louisiana purchase if it hadn't been for the open threat of Arnold simply taking New Orleans by force?
 

Keenir

Banned
The relations he established with Britain were idiotic. They only ensured we alienated France and straddled our way between conflict and peace with the powers of Europe in the early years of the 19th century.

As a Briton, I agree - Arnold's policy was to keep the United Kingdom close enough to repeatedly tweak our nose. (and I'm not just talking about all the Indian uprisings he sponsored - don't try to deny it! - in British North America)
 
Great American, Patriot, and Hero. His abilities as a General were far greater than Washington's, even though Washington commanded the Presidency first. I found it quite masterful how he managed to contain the fractitious political parties and bring both Hamilton and Burr to the table and allowed Arnold to create a truly United States. This resembled many a staff meeting were Hamilton and Burr planned with Arnold, during cold nights at Valley Forge, ways to eject the English from the North while Washington fought Cornwallis to a standstill in the South. President Arnold, greatest President.
 
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