At least two Republican presidential candidates will stand with Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. During Wednesday’s CNN’s Republican presidential debate, candidates were asked about the proposed changes to the $10 bill and the woman with whom they would prefer to replace the country’s first treasury secretary.
Hot on the heels of Jeb Bush’s call for Margaret Thatcher to be put on the $10 bill, a UK-based charity that has been set up to teach future generations about the Iron Lady’s life, values and achievements is now marketing replica $10 bills with a portrait of Lady Thatcher on them.
I must admit I was appalled to hear of Treasury Secretary Jack Lew’s decision last week to demote Alexander Hamilton from his featured position on the ten dollar bill. My reaction has been widely shared, see for example here, here, here, here, and here.
The ongoing Women on the 20s campaign has been putting pressure on President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to Remove Andrew Jackson from the $20 bill. However, it turns out that the United States Treasury Department had another target: Alexander Hamilton. While removing Jackson from our nation’s currency would be a travesty, diminishing Hamilton is a disgrace.
From the Washington Post: Will it be Susan B. Anthony or Harriet Tubman? Eleanor Roosevelt or Rosa Parks? Or another important woman from American history? These will be among the names the nation ponders after the Obama administration’s announcement late Wednesday
