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Listed below are the five most effective and five most destructive American presidents. Some were rich. Some grew up poor. Some were brilliant. Others had only average intelligence. These are my evaluations, based on my understanding and interpretations of history, economics, and human nature and do not necessarily represent the opinions of anyone else. Since all humans have weaknesses and strengths, I also gave a criticism of the policies of the best presidents and a compliment for the successes of the worst presidents.
Five Best
5. Thomas Jefferson: Not interested in serious military preparedness. Saw that the first transition between political parties was seamless. Promoted small farmers over moneyed interests. Expanded the country with the Louisiana Purchase. A genius.4. Theodore Roosevelt: Put the country on the path to empire. Balanced the needs of capital with the needs of labor. Expanded conservation. Incredible confidence and energy.
3. Franklin Roosevelt: His New Deal was an abject failure but his personality prevented a more damaging lurch to communism or fascism. Successfully led the country through most of WWII.
2. George Washington: Cold and aristocratic. Universally respected. Led by example. A personality marked by moderation and selflessness. Created the office of presidency. Turned down the post of president for life.
1. The best--Abraham Lincoln: Greatly limited states' power. Rags to riches biography. Shepherded the country through its worst crisis, despite vicious political opposition and personal tragedy. Writer of timeless political prose. Embodied wisdom. Died a martyr.
Five Worst
5. Woodrow Wilson: Regulated big business and lowered tariffs. Promised
his new income tax would only tax the rich. His Federal Reserve has overseen the loss of almost all of the dollar's purchasing power. Meddled in Mexico,
accomplishing nothing. Curtailed civil liberties during WWI.
Incapacitated during his second term, and his inability to govern was hidden from
the American public.*4. Barack Obama (as of January, 2012): Oversaw termination of Osama bin Laden. Attempted to reform a broken healthcare system. Pushed through a healthcare bill before it could be vetted. Wasted billions on an ineffectual spending scheme to reduce unemployment. As debt hit critical levels continued to promote deficit spending programs. Went on lavish vacations using the people's money during difficult economic times.
3. George W. Bush: A patriot and leader against Islamic terrorism. Turned the United States closer in spirit to imperial Rome and a police state. Wasted billions on war.
2. Andrew Johnson: Believed with all his being in the sacredness of the Constitution. An opponent of doing anything for the freedmen (ex-slaves). Used presidential reconstruction to get even with plantation aristocracy rather than to do anything for equality. Emotionally unstable.
1. The worst--James Buchanan: Potentially an antebellum president both North and South could trust. Overly sympathetic to the South's cause. Promoted the Dred Scott case as a resolution to North-South divisions. Failed to cool secessionist feelings or stop southern states from seceding.
* Based on lowering of AAA-credit rating and increase of debt, low GDP growth, and poor employment when compared to other post-recessionary periods.
Feel free to comment on who I should have included or left out.
