ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, September 22, 1996             TAG: 9609230015
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: A-7  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: COMPILED BY JON CAWLEY/STAFF WRITER

WHICH LEADERS DO YOU ADMIRE - AND WHY?

"Mother Teresa. What she stands for doesn't place emphasis on material possessions or the dollar. In this time and age, everyone is caught up in material possessions and money."

- Barbara Overstreet, 40s,< state employee, Roanoke County

"Abe Lincoln. Lincoln did his best to make a bad situation something everyone could live with. It was the Civil War and the whole country was fighting against itself. These days it's what don't you like about them, especially with the candidates.''

- Jay Burnett, 44, artist, Roanoke County

"Nelson Mandela. He went to jail for what he believed in and came out and is still doing the things he believes in."

- Bill Mahone, 24, food service, Roanoke

``Harry Truman. I remember Truman made a speech where he was going to dismiss a person out of his Cabinet, but gave him the chance to answer for it first. Then he didn't dismiss him.''

- Clayton Biller, 76, parking attendant, Roanoke County

"Jesse Jackson. He stands for the poor. Everything he does is to help people have a better life. That says something to me about the man's character."

- Eddie Barnett, 46, pipefitter, Roanoke

"Martin Luther King Jr. had to go out to the people and speak up for black people to have their freedom. Not just for black people, but all people.''

- Mark McCadden, 31, Furniture assembler, Roanoke

"John Kennedy. I liked that speech 'Ask not what your country can do for you.' His reaction to Cuba was exactly what he said he'd do. He didn't say one thing and do something else.''

- Hazel Lawson, 55, data processor, Roanoke

"Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. He believed in freedom and what's right. He was honest and was willing to stand up for what he believed."

- Jennifer Deane, 30s, telemarketer, Blue Ridge

"Abraham Lincoln put the country back together. He was from the country and used common sense. He was a genius at knowing people's feelings. He would build people up and not put them down after they were defeated."

- Earl Grubb, 39, retail sales associate, Bedford County

"Bill Clinton. He tried to get people a raise. Before Clinton, I didn't have insurance at work. When he became president, now I have insurance and everything has become easy for me. I also have freedom to my country [Haiti]."

- Gesnel Saintmelus, 41, scrub cutter, Roanoke

"Ronald Reagan. During Iran-Contra he covered up a lot of stuff. He was trying to protect the American people. Everyone was better off financially in the 80s. When he was president we were living better."

- Christy Guillians, 21, retail sales associate, student, Roanoke

"Thomas Jefferson. During the writing of the documents for the country, he wrestled with how to design the engine. He spoke his mind. He wasn't influenced by voting people as much as now. What a candidate says now is to get into office, and then he doesn't support the constituency."

- Tom McClung 37, construction equipment sales, Roanoke County

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ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  (headshots (all 10.