Gregory J. Neumann wrote: > As far as "Greatest American (being defined in this context as that > subclass of residents of the North American continent that are > citizens of the United States of America) of All Time", I doubt Bill > Gates would seriously be in the running. Well ... maybe he would be, > based on the general grasp of history I see in my fellow USians. ;-)
Historically, successful business executives are remembered, but usually not well. Consider the Medicis, the Rothschilds, the Rockefellers, Carnegie, Gould or the Astors. They were all well-known in their times, and some had businesses that were as innovative -- and as monopolistic -- as Bill Gates. Now, though, the average person remembers their names (if at all) as being vaguely synonymous with wealth, but would have trouble remembering anything they did. A century from now, Bill Gates will probably have the same sort of memory. -- Bruce Byfield 604-421-7177 http://members.axion.net/~bbyfield
