Yes, it was democracy and the will of the American people, but three US Army Commanding Generals became US presidents. It happens every 80 years in American history.
George Washington 1789, then after 80 years, Ulysses Grant 1869, then after 84 years Dwight Eisenhower 1953. What do you expect in 2033 or before, surely sooner because history will repeat itself faster as life and technology are faster, and time is flying? That means it might happen in 2024 or 2028.
https://www.usmessageboard.com/threads/what-lessons-africa-and-the-third-world-should-learn-from-the-presidential-elections-of-washington-ulysses-and-eisenhower-by-mekki-elmograbi.991438/#post-30397623

Does this mean that the attitude of any large group of people ebbs and flows in a predictable manner?
And that this happens over a few generations of time?
I think it probably does.
Fashions seem to return from the past, to gladden or frustrate?
So nothing is new under the sun?
Oh well. Life is still interesting.

America is a military state. One mentioned, Dwight Eisenhower in his farewell speech, warned of the military-industrial complex sweeping America. Eisenhower's warning went unheeded, and the result can been seen today in world conflict.

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes." - Dwight Eisenhower.

Welcome to the forum Mr Mekki Elmogabi from Sudan.
I read your article on the US Message Board with
interest. Thank you for raising this topic for
discussion.

There certainly are troublesome times ahead in the
US - especially if Trump decides to run for re-election.
The military may support him this time. We've already
seen the insurrection at the US Capitol as a warning.
Now 3 retired US generals have warned another insurrection
could happen after the 2024 presidential election and that
the military could support it.

"In short, we're chilled to the bones at the thought of a
coup succeeding next time," they wrote.

Lets hope tha criminal charges are filed against Trump
sooner than later.

Anyhow - there's more at the following link:

http://npr.org/2021/12/31/1068930675/us-election-coup-january-6-military-constitution

The three Generals who became Presidents were exceptional leaders with stellar résumés and reputations as not only great leaders of men but also sober and far-sighted policies.

Following two decades of abject failures for the US military no such military men exist at the moment and none are on the horizon.

History doesn't repeat but does sometimes rhyme. Three data points aren't a pattern. If a great military leader were to arise, s/he could accede to the presidency. But the nature of the current US military would obviate against such a person rising to anywhere near the rank of general.

Ulysses S Grant was an alcoholic, and generally rates in the top 10 worse Presidents of all time. A number of US Presidents avoided military service only to sends others to their deaths.