VoiceBox: If you could go back and meet any United States President, who would it be and why?

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS BY COLIN MACDOUGALL, CONTRIBUTOR

Sarah Chance, 37, Ann Arbor, web application and development

“Abraham Lincoln. It was a really racially charged time… and I’d like to know more about his decision to free the slaves – like what was behind it, because there were still slaves in the north and that’s why the south split.”

Steve Ignash, 32, Howell, computer science

“Theodore Roosevelt, the war hero. He was a tough guy and always rode horses. His demeanor

was strong and he really cared about the people and soldiers he was fighting with.”

Andy Mojica, 16, Ypsilanti, undecided

“Abraham Lincoln. He helped free the slaves. He’s a big famous president and there is a bunch of weird movies about him.”

Shelby Kauth, 20, Ypsilanti, technical science

“Theodore Roosevelt, because he’s kind of a badass.”

Mohamed Hamidi, 13, Ypsilanti, WTMC

“Abraham Lincoln because I want to see what strategies he did to abolish slavery. I don’t know personally the steps he took in stopping slavery.”

Mike Ebbert, 22, Ann Arbor, liberal arts

“Richard Nixon, just to see what’s behind the Watergate footage.”

Joseph Longo, 20, Ann Arbor, philosophy

“William McKinley, to tell him to watch out.”

Connor McGrath, 19, Belleville, computer science

“Ronald Reagan, I want to know how he got everyone to cooperate.”

Keegan Dunning, 17, Brighton, WTMC – welding

“Abraham Lincoln, to try on his top hat and then I could feel like I was a part of history.”

Trevor Wardell, 16, Garden City, liberal arts

“George Washington, to talk about the Revolutionary War, also to try on his powdered wig and to look at his teeth because I heard they were beautifully white.”

Charlotte Pardo, 17, South Lyon, liberal arts

“Franklin Pierce because nobody knows anything about him. I’d like to find out if he did anything that was actually important.”

Devonte Long, 24, Ypsilanti, nutrition

“John F. Kennedy because he was one of the real one’s. There is a lot of presidents who aren’t down with the agenda. They got their own little sneaky ways.”

Lavia Reynolds, 17, Ann Arbor, math and science

“George Washington. I’d ask him his opinion on what politics has turned into today – the two- party system and how they treat elections almost as a sport. I’d ask him whether it disappoints him or how he feels about it… Was it what he envisioned when he helped found the country or did he envision it more cooperative by choosing our president?”

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