‘Political leaders whom I feel made an impact on history’

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

ELIZABETH I (1558 – 1603) Queen of England;

Advanced the Act of uniformity in 1559 which create an independent and uniform litany for religious worship; the act had thirty-nine articles in 1563, a compromise which formally separated the Anglican Church from the Roman Catholic Church
Enacted the so called “Poor Laws” during the 1590’s, culminating into the “Poor Law Act” of 1601 which made local governments responsible for their own impoverished citizens.

Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

“Failure?? Do you remember what Queen Victoria once said?” -  “Failure – the possibilities do not exist.”

Zâyed bin Sulṭân Âl Nahyân (1971-2004) President of the United Arab Emirates

Zayed was a pivotal figure in maintaining the unity of the UAG Federation and worked to establish powerful peaceful relations with nearby countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman. The sheik also helped broker peace between Oman and the former People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen during their border conflicts in the 1980’s and between Iran and Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War between 1980-1988

Carrie Chapman Catt (1920) American Women’s Suffragette Leader, President of the National League of Women’s Voters

“There are two kinds of restrictions upon liberty; the restrictions of laws and that of custom. No written law has ever been more binding than unwritten custom supported by public opinion.”

Harvey Milk (1977) Supervisor, San Francisco Board of Supervisors

The 1^st openly homosexual public official of the Untied States. Mile & friend George Moscone, mayor of San Francisco were assassinated by a disgruntled coworker and former actor, Dan White.

Chandrika Kumaratunga  (1994 – 2005) President of Sri Lanka

The 1^st female president of Sri Lanka. Just days before the presidential elections in December 199, she narrowly escaped a suicide bombing/assassination attempt with only minor injuries. Despite the bombing, attributed to the LTTE, the elections went on and she was re-elected to a 2^nd, 6 year term.

Hugo Chavez (1999-2013) President, Venezuela

A self-appointed styled populist who won the allegiance of Venezuela’s poor while alienating the upper classes and broad sections of the middle class. In foreign affairs he cultivated close relations with Cuba, rejected efforts to establish free trade zones with Latin America and defied the United States on many foreign policy issues.

Bill Clinton (1993 – 2001) President of the United States

The most popular president of the 20^th century. Implemented the Department of Defense directive; ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ which forbade the military from inquiring about an individuals sexual orientation. Publicly supported gay marriage in 2009 and actively lobbied for the overturn of the Defense of Marriage act (DOM). He was the 2^nd president to be impeached (later acquitted).