We Doubt Many People Could Name All 40 of these Influential Leaders in American History

40. Ted Turner

Beginning with a billboard company which he inherited from his father Ted Turner built a media empire, created the 24 hours a day news channel (CNN and its sister channels), the nation’s first television superstation (WTCG, later renamed WTBS), and used his steadily growing influence to promote environmental causes across the country. He also founded the Goodwill Games, developed a reputation for making outrageous statements, and met with foreign leaders and dignitaries around the world. His influence on American history is visible every time a television is tuned to one of the channels he created, or to those created to compete with him.

Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

“Franklin D. Roosevelt”. Entry, The White House, whitehouse.gov

“Alexander Hamilton”. Ron Chernow. 2005

“Citizen Ford”. David Halberstam, American Heritage Magazine. October/November 1986

“The Life of James Madison”. Entry, James Madison’s Montpelier. Online

Living in a Land Grant University. Washington State University Extension. Pdf. Online

“General George C. Marshall: Why He Still Matters”. David Hein, Marshall Magazine (George C. Marshall Foundation) Fall, 2016

“Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power”. Jon Meacham. 2012

“Benjamin Franklin: An American Life”. Walter Isaacson. 2003

“John Marshal: The Man Who Made the Supreme Court”. Richard Brookhiser. 2018

“The Erie Rising”. Roseanne Haggerty, American Heritage Magazine. April, 2001

“Jane Addams: A Biography”. Robin Kadison Berson. 2004