The greatest war in American history, was World War Two (WWII). Most readers of this screed, will not possibly remember it. I was but seven when it started, but I do remember it, and have been fascinated about it ever since. 362,000 Americans lost their lives, and millions were injured. When I see an ancient WWII vet with his usual cap on, identifying him, I always go to him, shake his hand, and thank him, usually with tears in my eyes. They appreciate it, and I urge you to do the same if you see one of them. "D Day, Sixth of June" was the battle at which the tide turned, and a battle which cost thousands of lives, just in one single day.
Now to get to Andrew Higgins and "The Donald." Andrew Higgins drank a bottle of whiskey ever day, and was a self taught, smart ass, genius, who thought bureaucrats and big government in general were totally inept and wasteful. His genius was in small boat design. In the 1930's he had been building small boats for the oil industry for several years. The oil industry needed shallow draft, light weight, strong boats of about 30 feet in length, so they could explore the swamps of south Louisiana. The boats Higgins built, could be run up on a bank, and reverse, and extract itself. Higgins named his boat "Eureka." It was made of wood. Higgins was certain that a war would happen, and he also figured that his boats would be needed by the oil industry, and possibly by the government to land troops and vehicles in shallow water. He decided that if war came, lumber would be difficult to obtain and ship, so he bought the entire 1939 crop of mahogany from the Philippines, and stored it for future use.
When Hitler declared war on America, shortly after the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, it was obvious that Marines, Army, Air Force, and Navy would be deeply involved. The Marines, realizing that they would have to be landed on foreign shores, ordered the Navy to design an "LCVP," which stood for 'Landing craft, vehicle and personnel." Higgins knew that his wood boats would fit the job perfectly, so he got involved in the bidding process. Naturally, the Navy Bureau of Ships wanted to design the craft themselves, and wanted no part of a hot tempered Irishman, who drank too much, and thought a wood boat was absurd. After all, the Navy wanted steel boats built by a reputable, established, east coast firm, not some fly-by-night Gulf Coast outfit no one had ever heard of. Higgnis said, in no uncertain terms, that the "Navy doesn't know one damn thing about small boats."
It took a couple of years, but he finally got his foot in the Navy bureaucratic door, and he was allowed to compete for contracts. The Marines loved the LCVP's that Higgins produced. They were so far superior to anything the Navy or other private contractors had designed, that excellence had won out over blind, stupid, stuck-in-the-mud bureaucracy. Once he got the initial contract, Higgins showed that he was not only a design genius, but a mass production genius. He had assembly lines scattered about New Orleans, some under canvas, and at his peak, had 30,000 employees. His work force was comprised of men, women, and blacks, a first in New Orleans. He paid them all well, and had a huge sign over the assembly lines, reading, "The Man Who Relaxes, Is Helping The Axis." His boats came to be affectionately known as "Higgins Boats." They were 36 feet long, diesel powered, had a protected propeller, and could carry a platoon of 36 men or a Jeep and 12 men. The ramp was metal, but the sides and stern were plywood. They could bring a load ashore, unload them, and instantly reverse and go back for another load. By the end of the war, Higgins had produced over 20,000 LCVP's. General Dwight Eisenhower, who ran the European part of WW II, said that Higgins, "Was the man who won the war for us." I wonder if any are still remaining. E-Bay doesn't list any.
Now, compare genius, smart ass, Andrew Higgins with Donald Trump. Trump has little to no use for the establishment in D.C. and thinks they are totally inept. Just like Higgins. Trump is smart, and a probable genius who has ideas which can remake America into something great again. Higgins knew he could design and produce boats which would immeasurably help the was effort. The establishment wanted no part of Higgins, like they want no part or Trump. Higgins prevailed after much effort and pressure on the powers that were in charge. Higgins made them look stupid, like Trump is doing as I write this. Higgins, as Eisenhower said, "Won the war for us," and Trump, if elected, will "Make America Great Again."