[tokenadult]

However, it wasn't until Sputnik and the scare of the commies being able to "drop nukes on our heads" that natural born American citizens started to really participate in the development of America's intellectual prowess.

Not back when Benjamin Franklin was inventing and doing research?

[sachinag]

Benjamin Franklin fits into the long line of American tinkerers, not a world-class intellect. Think of Ron Popeil.

[jdminhbg]

Wha? The man discovered that lightning was electricity, hardly the 'Chop-o-Matic' of the 18th century.

[skmurphy]

Here are two that go well beyond Mr. Popeil's contribution.

lightning rod = extremely practical and still in widespread use today

bifocals = one pair of glasses instead of two, still in use today

[tokenadult]

How about Thomas Jefferson then?

[10ren]

tinkerer==hacker?