Question: Which president was considered for Mount Rushmore but lost to Teddy Roosevelt?
Answer: Gutzon Borglum, Mount Rushmore’s sculptor, envisioned it as a “Shrine of Democracy” featuring Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln for their pivotal roles, with a fourth face to be determined. After debate over the fourth face, with Woodrow Wilson considered for leading the country during WWI, Borglum ultimately chose Roosevelt for his conservation efforts and role in building the Panama Canal.
