Why are Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln on Mount Rushmore with two of the founding fathers should it not be just founding fathers?

Answer 1

The monument on Rushmore was intended to honor presidents of the United States, not founding fathers. It just so happens, perhaps not coincidentally, that two of the men everybody agrees were among the greatest presidents, Washington and Jefferson, were also founding fathers. Everybody also agrees that Lincoln is one of the greatest presidents, certainly second only to Wshington and there are those who would rate him above Washington. As for Teddy Roosevelt, he may have seemed more important when the monument was being sculpted, in the 1930's, than he does now. Even then there were those who felt he was not important enough to be included with the other three but he was a cousin of Franklin Roosevelt who was president when the project was under way so what are you going to do? Michael Montagne Theodore Roosevelt is the backbone and founder of the national park system. Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman and he loved to travel the country. That could be why he is on there.