Best US President

[ojc02]

Washington
Jefferson
Grover Cleveland
William H Harrison

Lincoln and FDR are two of the worst down in GWB territory.

[tolbiny]

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Who would you guys argue was the best president? I think it's interesting since most of the popular choices (Lincoln, FDR, Regan) wouldn't be all too popular 'round these parts.

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The most popular choices will always be presidents who lived during high profile times, either the 1st president, or during a war/largest depression. I know almost nothing about presidents who were commander in chief during times of peace and prosperity.

[Kaj]

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Who would you guys argue was the best president? I think it's interesting since most of the popular choices (Lincoln, FDR, Regan) wouldn't be all too popular 'round these parts.

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The most popular choices will always be presidents who lived during high profile times, either the 1st president, or during a war/largest depression. I know almost nothing about presidents who were commander in chief during times of peace and prosperity.

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Of the 3 listed above, at least 1 served during a time as you describe. So was Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt and John Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower, 4 more well-known Presidents. But your point is accurate in that America lionizes those who served in interesting times more than those who tended shop and faithfully served the Constitution. No doubt about that, and that should be the most important measure of all.

[DontRaiseMeBro]

taft

[UtzChips]

I have to give the nod to Kennedy. I doubt we would have got thru that without a serious war without him. I know McNamara had a lot to do with it, however, Mc was responding to Kennedy's resistance to the general's wanting to bomb.

If the generals had gotten their way, they never would have had the time to determine what was going on in the Kremlin, i.e., two completely different types of messages.

Plus, you don't assasinate a president that melts in with the political machinery that is running things.

Lastly, I was born in 54. I am white and do not believe there has been anything more important in my lifetime than the civil rights movement.

I am a lot happier today, than when the only time you saw a black in a commercial on t.v., was for a commercial about cleaning products.

[xorbie]

Kennedy really didn't do much for Civil Rights, AFAIK it was mostly Johnson.

[owsley]

President Marshall

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

In my lifetime...

Best - Eisenhower
Worst - Carter

[andyfox]

Eisenhower? You're an old fart.

I don't think there have been any good presidents in my lifetime, I'd probably go with Eisenhower as the "best."

Nixon was the worst, and it isn't close. That's saying something, because Carter and the current Bush were awful.

[Thug Bubbles]

Could people please explain their reasons? Simply listing isn't very informative. Specifically, Andyfox, could you elaborate on why Nixon was far and away the worst?

I'm curious why you make mention of "not even close", when compared to this board's railing against FDR and Lincoln.