Representative Image / Generated using AI

Long before the phrase “Make America great again (MAGA)” was most recently popularized by Donald J. Trump during his presidential campaigns, America was made great by the contribution of some outstanding individuals who uplifted the image of America to make it currently stand as the greatest country in the world. 

It represents American exceptionalism with the belief that the United States of America is either distinctive, unique, or exemplary compared to other nations.

1: J. Robert Oppenheimer: (1904-1967)

He is often called the ‘father of atom bomb’ for the role he played in overseeing the development of the first nuclear weapon. It spurred the immediate job growth and created new industrial hubs. It solidified U.S. global power.

2: Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)

As the 40th President of the United States, he became an important figure in the American conservative movement. His optimistic ‘peace through strength’ approach paved the way for economic growth (Reaganomics), and eventual collapse of communism. 

Also Read: MAGA + MIGA = MEGA: Modi's formula for Ind-US ties

3: Wernher Von Braun (1912-1977)

A German-born rocket engineer and space architect, he played a key role in both American missiles and NASA space programs. He is described as the ‘father of space travel’. The success of the Apollo program, powered by Von Braun’s rockets, was a monumental national achievement.

4: John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

He ranks highly in polls of U.S. Presidents with the historians as well as public at large. The economy turned around and prospered during Kennedy’s Presidency. The term ‘Camelot’ is often used to describe his presidency reflecting a powerful nostalgia for that era of American history.

5: James D. Watson (1928-2025)

The Nobel Prize winning American molecular biologist who, in 1953, along with the English biophysicist Francis Crick, proposed the double helix structure of the DNA, was instrumental in initiating and propelling the Human Genome Project. It was a discovery of the century and had an explosive impact on science and society.

6: Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

Called the ‘King of Rock & Roll’, Elvis Presley was an American singer and actor who revolutionized popular music by combining blues, country, gospel and other roots music. He quickly became a global cultural icon who broke racial barriers and transformed entertainment.

7: Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

A pioneer of the personal computer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, he helped transform several industries: personal computing, animated movies, phones, tablet computing, retail stores, and digital publishing. He focused on creating products people didn’t know they wanted. He was a visionary leader.

8: Bill Gates (1955-)

An American entrepreneur best known for cofounding Microsoft in 1975. It became the world’s largest software company. He boosted the U.S. economy through Microsoft’s tech revolution creating jobs and digital infrastructure.

9: Jansen Huang (1963-)

Since 1993, he is the cofounder, CEO, and president of Nvidia, an American computer chip company that produces processors and artificial intelligence technology. Nvidia’s impact on the U.S. and world economy is colossal, acting as the engine of AI revolution, driving massive tech investment, reshaping global supply chains, and significantly boosting U.S. GDP.

10: Elon Musk: (1971-)

As a businessman and entrepreneur, Elon Musk is known for his leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, X, and XAI. His companies significantly impact the U.S. economy by driving innovation in electric vehicles, space, and AI, creating jobs, generating tax revenue and spurring investment exceeding a trillion dollars.

As for Donald Trump, whether he can succeed in keeping America as the greatest nation is a subject of ongoing debate. Trump has an evolving legacy. Assessment of the range of his impact will surely change in the years to come as his second administration unfolds.

 

The writer is the author of the nonfiction book Karmic Cycle and the novel Raju, and has published articles in international journals.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of  New India Abroad)

 

 

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