AHC: Lasting classical influence in USA culture

I want a way for getting America's interest in Classical culture and Classical mythology lasting longer than OTL, preferably before 1860.

For example:

-Have some poet to write an epic poem, maybe called Americana or something like this, analogous to Aeneid, about the history of the United States of America.

-Have Hercules as a representation of America, Prometheus as kind of protector of American innovative spirit (maybe the Rockefeller family can help on this), Athena as symbol of the federal government.

-Have the Western literary canon and some Classical studies, Euclidean geometry for example, usually taught in schools.

BONUS POINTS:

-Have social activism and art separated.

-Have the degenerate art movement to end after WW2.

-Have Douglas MacArthur, or analogous, to nuke China and the Soviet Union.
 
American love of Classical history and literature perished in the Gilded Age in OTL. I don't know how you fix that.
 
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