Who is the greatest president ever? I think it is probably F.D.R, the man who led America out of the depression, and through most of the war. He was the man who made America the greatest nation on Earth.
Washington wasn't our first president... technically. Technically, a number of men served as leader under the Articles of Confederation, which was the first functioning Constitution the US had. John Hancock was one of them.
But, if you get even more technical, Washington was the first president voted in by our modern election process and the first leader to serve under the Constitution.
I've noticed people mostly listing off the classics--Washington for his ideals, Lincoln for his leadership and humanitarianism, Teddy Roosevelt for his conservation laws and complete badassery, and F.D.R. for the New Deal and his economic actions-- but these aren't the only great men that led the United States, nor are they entirely representative of how the U.S.A. achieved success. The question really comes down to how you define greatness.
What about James K. Polk? He most certainly wasn't an example of humanitarian kindness or positive international relations, but he is also responsible for acquiring a third of the continental United States (pretty much the entire West Coast). He started a war in the process, but we certainly wouldn't be the same country without him.
Or perhaps William Harding, who was elected for just looking so **** presidential. If that's not an allegory for modern American culture, I don't know what is.
But yeah, I'm definitely going with Teddy Roosevelt or James K. Polk.
I can't imagine what life would be like without Anti-Trust laws.
Not necessarily worse, at least with our current Anti-Trust laws. Even ignoring the fact that companies are essentially guilty until proven innocent, "What's bad for competition" has become "What's bad for competitors." Thus we get the infamous Anti-Trust lawsuits against Microsoft, IBM, Google, and Alcoa to mention a few, in which they lost simply because they were doing good business.
Andrew Jackson because he didn't let anyone tell him what to do. He also killed the national bank by giving the money to state banks, balancing some power between national and state government. He also is the only president to get us out of national debt. Just to top it all off he served with two bullets in him.
What about James K. Polk? He most certainly wasn't an example of humanitarian kindness or positive international relations, but he is also responsible for acquiring a third of the continental United States (pretty much the entire West Coast). He started a war in the process, but we certainly wouldn't be the same country without him.
This guy gets it. Polk is the best president you never hear about.
The first Roosevelt was awesome before his Presidency, but became a big 'ol socialist during it. The second Roosevelt was a step behind becoming a tyrant with all his crazy spending and domestic "control". Lincoln is up there, Harding's up there, heck, if you take away the Watergate scandal, Nixon's practically gold-plated.
I don't believe we had any greatest presidents because our debt began when Washington took office. But, for leadership, i guess ill go with good Ol' Honest Abe. He did lead the country very well through that war.
heck, if you take away the Watergate scandal, Nixon's practically gold-plated.
Ah, I agree. Without that bit, Nixon did very well. It's just too bad he was an idiot about that whole situation.
As for the greatest? Psh, they all contributed in some way or another to the current America; whether it is seen as a good or bad condition is irrelevant since they all contributed. To me, there is no "greatest" president, but rather a favorite president for each person based on actions they've done.
...Which leads to mine. Clinton. Aside, from his little scandal, he did a great job while in office, even fixing something of the problems that were present when he came to office. The scandal, sadly, only makes me admire him more because of the end result. He told everyone the truth after lying about it, despite it making him look bad. Sure, he had to, but for some reason the act that he committed seemed more like a real scandal, instead of Nixon's Watergate issue. Clinton's affair made him seem more..on our level, and I appreciated that.
I'm not a fan of either party, but this is pretty funny; Democrats have started nearly every American war. (not saying some of these are bad, buuut...)
1812 - Madison was a Democrat-Republican, which evolved into the Democrat party
Mexican-American - Polk was a Democrat, and the war has often been criticized as a "slave war"
Civil War - The mainly Democratic Southern states depart the union after Republican Lincoln is elected
Spanish-American - Finally a Republican, McKinley, takes the British-administered policeman of the western hemisphere to defeat one of the oldest and most powerful nations in western history
WW1 - While not caused by America by any means, Democrat Woodrow Wilson brought America into the war pretty late into the fray
WW2 - Again, not caused by America, Dem. FDR rallied the Depression-stricken populace into beating a bunch of Prussians on steroids alongside a bear, a pansy, and our Parent
Korea - Riding on his predecessor's coattails, Truman defended South Korea
Vietnam - Long, dragged out, and I'm not 100% sure if JFK or LBJ actually started it, but Democrat LBJ spear-headed the troop deployment to the South-Asian country. It's worth noting that a Republican president, Nixon, used an absurd amount of explosives to end the war similarly to Korea. It was only years later when the North attacked again did Congress decline Nixon's demand for war.
Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, wars - Bush sr, Bush jr. Republicans. You know the wars, I do, no need to get too detailed.
I'm just saying that, generally, peace means that all is well in the world and America is doing its job properly. In cases such as the second world war, there are reasons to come to the defense of the freedoms of Man, but again, generally war is not the ever-pursued option.
2) Also, continuing with this..the 2 parties basically have switched roles over time. Democratic of old are more like the Republicans of now..while Republicans of old are like Democrats of now
WW1 - While not caused by America by any means, Democrat Woodrow Wilson brought America into the war pretty late into the fray
Actually...Wilson tried to keep us out of the war and on a neutral stance. This only changed after the Zimmerman Telegram and the sinking of American Ships by German U-Boats
WW2 - Again, not caused by America, Dem. FDR rallied the Depression-stricken populace into beating a bunch of Prussians on steroids alongside a bear, a pansy, and our Parent
This set us up as a definitive super-power in the world. Plus..what do you expect us to do after our poorly arranged Pearl Harbor was attacked?
1) With the viewpoints he had..Lincoln would more likely be a Democrat (ignore the site it is on..the article itself is the main point.)
2) Also, continuing with this..the 2 parties basically have switched roles over time. Democratic of old are more like the Republicans of now..while Republicans of old are like Democrats of now
To add to this further, our southern states which clinged more to traditional values were Democrat. They relied on a unified government in order to uphold these traditions. The two parties did a switcheroo when Labor Laws and Unions were becoming popular.
