What if your reading material compares the development of Shakespeares Henry V to which American president?

Answer 1

Because Henry V tells the story of the aforementioned king and his conquest into France, the play can be compared to a number of U.S. presidents that went to war with a neighboring nation. One such president could be James K. Polk, who waged war with Mexico during his presidency, which as from 1845 to 1859.

Answer 2

I would say that if your reading material compares Henry V as shown by Shakespeare to any American President, it's time to get new reading material.

If one looks at American Presidents who started wars of imperial expansion, the one most similar to Henry is probably James K. Polk, whose war against Mexico resulted in great expansion of American territory, was concluded within two years, and generally involved smaller American armies with high morale defeating much larger but more dispirited Mexican armies. In this way Polk was much more successful than Henry, who made no permanent increase in English territory.

George W. Bush is a much worse fit. Henry declared war on a state, France, which can surrender and end the war; Bush declared war on a method of waging war, terrorism, which can never surrender, and therefore the war can never end. Henry personally led his troops into battle; Bush did not. Henry at Agincourt was faced with a superior military force; Bush never challenged any force that was not far inferior to his.

Henry had at least an arguable claim to be entitled to govern the country he invaded; Bush did not. Henry ended his campaign by leaving the former government in place; Bush had the previous government of Iraq killed. Henry concluded a peace with France, sealed with a marriage, so there would be no further drain on his treasury; Bush bequeathed his war to his successor.

However, the successors to both were cursed by the legacy of the wars of their predecessors. Also, Henry is manipulated into war with France by the Archbishop of Canterbury in order to distract him from a proposed bill in Parliament which would taske away half of the church's revenues. Similarly, Bush was encouraged in his war plans by his Vice-President Cheney who hoped to, and did, profit immensely from the war effort.