Best American Presidents
75Who was the best American President?
Since the office of President involves so many issues and factors, making the choice as to who was best is often a challenging prospect at best. What will the assessment be made upon? Each President has faced unique challenges associated with their time in office and the events of the world in which they lived.
Should presidents be evaluated on their respect of the Constitution? On the expansion of the nation? Or on their ability to keep the peace, maintain a stable economy and allowing the people to prosper? Should war time Presidents be viewed in a better light than peace time presidents? These are all questions to consider in dealing with the question of who was the best American President.
Before getting to my choice, it would be helpful to see the others in the list and reasons for the choices. I attempted using how well these men held to the American ideals outlined in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution as guidelines for defining what the American vision is. I tried to stick with the original American ideal of self-reliance and freedom rather than the modern idea of the United States being a built on concepts that government is to provide for all the people’s needs. I also tried to look at which presidents maintained freedom amidst the challenges they faced during their administration.
5. James Madison-James Madison, known as the "Father of the Constitution" faced the challenge of undertaking a war with the World Power of Great Britain. The war at times almost expanded to include Spain and other nations. It was only through diplomacy that the expansion of war was curtailed, while maintaining national sovereignty and territory. He was also faced with the challenge of keeping distance from the entangling wars then going on in Europe with Napoleon. He managed to maintain leadership amidst challenges posed by the strong wills of Statesmen such as John Calhoun and Henry Clay. As any President knows, dealing with the strong personalities of the Congress is always a difficult challenge.
While the war was going on, the Dey of Algiers decided to take advantage of the Americans and plundered their shipping. After going through the struggles of the War of 1812, Madison successfully dealt with his own ‘war on terror’ in a military campaign with the Dey of Algiers which he managed to settle. After the war, the national army was disbanded, which is a practice rarely seen in modern times. Although some of his peers viewed him as week, he managed to hold the nation together through some challenging times and challenging personalities.
4. Thomas Jefferson-Thomas Jefferson brought freedom to the American people in the aftermath of the Adams administration with its repressive polices and restriction as seen the Sedition Acts. Under his administration, there was new liberty regarding freedom of speech. Jefferson used diplomacy to keep the nation out of the European alliances and wars then raging with Napoleon, yet also managed to procure the Louisiana Purchase. His diplomacy was astounding in maintaining neutrality amidst the challenges of “Join me in bringing England to reason” and the other camp of “Join us in putting down the disturber of the world”. The conflicts between these camps literally tore the world apart. He maintained United States neutrality while Europe exploded into war, unlike Presidents FDR and Wilson who took the nation into the middle of European wars.
Jefferson also managed navigating through the threats of secession coming from the New England States, unlike Lincoln who took the States directly into the nation’s bloodiest war over threats of secession. He wanted the people to govern themselves as they pleased as put forth in the Declaration of Independence. Under his administration the ideas of America were taken from the documents and put into practice.
3. Andrew Jackson-Andrew Jackson saw the danger of a national bank and took the necessary steps to do away with it. He wanted the nation to have a solid financial base free from centralized control, unlike President FDR who promoted centralized control of government agencies. Jackson took steps to insure that the nation was not hamstrung by financial elites unlike 20th century Presidents who managed getting the nation into entangling financial alliances that President Washington warned us to avoid. He also was very pro-American. He maintained a policy of never stepping foot outside of American soil his whole life. He ruffled quite a few feathers along the way by overstepping his authority, which although other Presidents have done, his did not restrict the freedoms of the American people. He respected the law and under his administration the nation was respected in the world.
Like Madison, Jackson dealt with the strong statesmen of Henry Clay, John Calhoun, John Quincy Adams and Daniel Webster. He managed to work with these strong personalities amidst their challenges to his policies. Although John Calhoun served as Jackson’s Vice President during his first administration, things changed in the second one. Calhoun joined with other statesmen opposing his policies. These men joined forces in standing against Jackson during his second administration.
Like Lincoln, he faced the challenge of States taking stands against national policy with the nullification crisis with South Carolina. Jackson navigated it without going to war or utterly disregarding rulings of the Supreme Court as Lincoln did with the Merryman case. Jackson was known to veto government spending if it was not Constitutional. He respected the Constitution and operated within its parameters. He used the Constitution as a measure for what he approved and what he vetoed within a strict definition.
2. Maribeau B. Lamar-President of Texas. Since Texas at the time included parts of Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Kansas, Lamar would be an American President. Under his administration, school funding systems were set up to provide perpetual funding of the Universities in Texas. His plan still provides the funding for Texas A&M, the University of Texas and other institutions of learning in the Texas. He designed the Texas flag and took the Texas navy into prominence. The Texas Navy patrolled and sailed from the Gulf of Mexico to New York City. The Texas Navy became the largest and fastest navy in the Gulf of Mexico at the time. Since the United States rejected the admission of Texas, he took the efforts of President Houston and improved on them, moving the capitol to Austin, a more central location in Texas. Texas legations and embassies were established in Paris, London, and other European nations.
Lamar took steps to establish Texas as a nation and have peace in Texas along with improving international relations. Texas enjoyed relative peace from wars during his administration. Taking any nation from frontier status to international recognition is quite an accomplishment, especially when you are sandwiched between the United States and Mexico.
Part of his campaign of improving the Texas Navy involved purchasing for them the best equipment available. One of these items was the new six-shooter revolver made by Samuel Colt. When President Houston began dismantling the navy built by Lamar, he gave the Navy Colt revolvers to the Texas Rangers. It was in the hands of the Rangers they became a famous weapon that "tamed the west". Lamar's foresight as President contributed to the popularity of this weapon that made a difference in the west.
1. Jefferson Davis-Jefferson Davis and his administration had to create a national government, with all its policies, infrastructure and personnel while being invaded by a nation many times its size. He had to operate under a new Constitution. Unlike the US Constitution which gave a twenty year grace period to slave traders, the Confederate Constitution immediately outlaws the importation of slaves.
President Madison faced the challenge of dealing with a world power, although in his case the infrastructure was already in place. Davis had to set up a government to construct these things. Consider the challenge of constructing a navy, army and national government, along with equipping and feeding them while you are being invaded by someone much larger than you are. This was a difficult task which he managed to accomplish. He not only managed it, he managed to keep the nation operating for five years during the war, when critics were claiming the Southern nation would not last one.
International relations were established, peace commission were sent to the United States (and rebuffed) and other diplomatic strategies were undertaken to avert war. “All we want is to be left alone” was a rallying cry from Davis. Davis also rejected offers from several Mexican States to join the Confederacy. He rejected their offer, since he did not want the war to expand beyond the borders of the Southern States.
Although some of his critics claim he was a traitor, he was never charged with treason or any illegal conduct. He maintained his poise throughout the war without denigrating to telling dirty jokes as Lincoln did or resorting to making threats. Although Karl Marx claimed Davis was a dictator, the facts show otherwise. Davis had his 'thorns in the side' with Governors who opposed his policies. Govenors Murrah of Texas, Brown of Georgia and Vance of North Carolina who each were firm States Rights men who often opposed President Davis when he overstepped his authority. Davis' administration was not perfect by any means although under his leadership, the press remained free and habeus corpus remained in effect during wartime in the Southern courts, unlike his rival who removed those freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. His family was the first presidential family that was integrated.
Thomas Jefferson Quotes
Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.
Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.
I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.
I cannot live without books.
Never spend your money before you have it.
The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive.
James Madison Quotes
"All men having power ought to be mistrusted".
"All that seems indispensible in stating the account between the dead and the living, is to see that the debts against the latter do not exceed the advances made by the former."
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
"And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together."
"As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights".
"Commercial shackles are generally unjust, oppressive, and impolitic."
"Despotism can only exist in darkness, and there are too many lights now in the political firmament to permit it to remain anywhere, as it has heretofore done, almost everywhere".
"Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government."
"Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations."
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations".
James Madison saw the danger of centralized government and the fallacy of later politicians concerning the myth perfect equality would bring a perfect society.
"Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of Government [democracy] have erroneously supposed, that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions and their passions".
Andrew Jackson Quotes
I have always been afraid of banks.
I weep for the liberty of my country when I see at this early day of its successful experiment that corruption has been imputed to many members of the House of Representatives, and the rights of the people have been bartered for promises of office.
I would sincerely regret, and which never shall happen whilst I am in office, a military guard around the President.
It is a damn poor mind indeed which can't think of at least two ways to spell any word.
It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.
Mischief springs from the power which the moneyed interest derives from a paper currency which they are able to control, from the multitude of corporations with exclusive privileges... which are employed altogether for their benefit.
The Bible is the rock on which this Republic rests.
The duty of government is to leave commerce to its own capital and credit as well as all other branches of business, protecting all in their legal pursuits, granting exclusive privileges to none.
The safety of the republic being the supreme law, and Texas having offered us the key to the safety of our country from all foreign intrigues and diplomacy, I say accept the key... and bolt the door at once.
- Texans Always Move Them: A True History of Texas
Discover how the policies of five Texas Presidents impacted Texas through the modern day. Find out who these men were and how they ended up in the highest political office of the Republic of Texas. - Terry's Texas Rangers | Jeffrey D. Murrah
The regimental history of the fightin'est cavalry outfit in the war. This regiment fought in more engagements and across more states than any other Texas cavalry regiment. Find out who they were, where they came from and what they did. - The Confederate Primer
Discover how the policies and Constitution of the Confederate States of America were assembled to create a new nation on the world scene. If you want one book that provides an overview of concise, key information this is it. - Jefferson Davis sites gain visits amid Lincoln 200th fervor
Pantagraph.com is a publication of The Pantagraph, a newspaper in Bloomington, Illinois. - The Hermitage - Home of President Andrew Jackson - Home
- James Madison's Montpelier - Restore Montpelier, Rediscover Madison
- Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
- Beauvoir - Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library
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Comments
Funny, Torpey! I also think this is quite a different list than many I've seen, but yes, very well-researched.
William,
In putting it together I recognized that the American ideals of the Founders is vastly different from the American ideals of the modern age. Truman was also faced with some very difficult decisions, and situations which he handled masterfully, rather than avoid them or pass it on to someone else.
The America of the founders cherised neutrality and independence. The modern American ideal deals with quality of life and other issues. It is almost as if there is a different America now compared to that of previous eras.
It would be interesting to see a worst president list along with the reasons why. Some of the do nothing presidents who just occupied the office actually did a good job of running the nation and not meddling. I tried to comeup with a thought provoking list to wake the readers up to how the American ideals have changed from those of the Founders. Jackson and Madison would have NEVER invaded Iraq, Afghanistan or even Kuwait. Jefferson and Madison had their moments but they would never have had an affair while president either. Timeshave changed and so has the caliber of men elected (or in some cases appointed) to high office.
I appreciate your comments. It always helps in making better, more infomred hubs.
Jeff
glassvisage,
As usual you come up with some intriguing hubs and requests. Thank you for suggesting this one. It gave me a chance to come up with some different angles on things. Keep up the good work.
Jeff
Hi JD, Your in-depth knowledge of American history is daunting and admirable. I truly learn a whole lot from your rich background here and from your other hubs. Do keep up the fascinating narratives you have been treating us hubbers with. Helen (a.k.a. Creativita)
Helen,
Thank you. I enjoy hubbing, although i do not always have the time to cover the topics as well as I want. I enjoy the variety of ideas I come across. I have always been one to think outside the box and I try to offer other views that are not so 'party line'. I hope to have more interaction with you. I love psychoanalysis and find it fascinating, so I hope to hear more of your input.
Jeff
I've always maintained that lists like this often tell us more about the listmakers than they do about the people/things named on the lists. I think yours certainly falls under this category.
You laud Jefferson Davis for immediately outlawing the importation of slaves although it had already been outlawed, even in the South, as a way to keep "foreign imports" from devaluing the domestic market. But you seem to overlook the fact that he preserved slavery itself, which was a practice that denied the opportunity for your proclaimed values of self-reliance and freedom to an entire race of people.
You also appear to overlook the fact that the first shots in the Civil War were proudly and eagerly fired by the South. And don't write this off as coming from some high-falutin' Yankee. I'm Southern born and bred; I'm just very dubious of attempts at revisionist history.
Realist,
Thank you for your comments. Yes I stand by Jefferson Davis. My point was that he took action right away rather than give the government 20 years to comply, which makes Congress looks good, but amounts to only posturing. It looks like you solved the problem, when actually all that was done is to pass the buck to someone else. Davis advocated a free market on goods with low tariffs in the south which threatened the economic policies of the industrial sites.
The slavery issue is definitely one filled with controversy, since Lincoln did not free the slaves in the Northern States even though he given credit for doing so. Bear in mind that the Southern States had more free blacks in its borders (261, 918) than the Northern States (226,152) did at the start of the war as well. This fact is often left out of many texts.
Davis faced some challenges on this point which was difficult for any president. To say that Davis denied the opportunites of self-reliance for an entire race is unfounded. The Confederate army had the first integrated units, which the US Army did not have until 1945, the first black chaplain was in the Confederacy, the highest ranking black was a Major, which did not occur in the US army for 80 more years. These are items are also often ignored.
If Davis is criticised for slavery, Lincoln must be also since he did not free the slaves in the States under his authority as President. Even in the Emancipation Proclamation, if the Southern States returned to the Union, he promised security for the slavery system. A true emancipation would not have contanied such a caveat. Both men faced challenges. I feel that Davis handled his in a better manner, not perfect by any means.
Yes the South fired the first shots. Lincoln and his administration provoked the episode by violating agreement after agreement leading up to the situation. His adminstration sent men, weapons and supplies in violation of the arrangements the negotiators agreed to. Although President Buchanan had made an agreement with the Governor of South Carolina, the Lincoln administration ignored those arrangements. Peace negotions were attempted in February of 1861 and they were rebuffed. Even when a Supreme Court justice attmpted interveining, he was rebuffed by the Lincoln administration. Although the Secretary of State promised South Carolina that the fort would be evacuated, the Lincoln administration did not keep its word. Lincoln sent men in violation of the sovereignty of South Carolina. Common sense dictates that when your private property is being violated and broken into, you have a right to defend it. When a thief is breaking in, as a home owner protecting your family, you take action rather than wait for the thief to 'fire first' before you do. South Carolina was protecting itself.
I share your concern with revisionist history as well. Too often the facts have been distorted in addressing the issues. Davis faced some difficult challenges and did not please everyone. Many of his decisions and policies we do not fully understand. The slavery issue was a difficult one in its day, much like the abortion issue is a challenge for us in these times. Such issues are filled with emotion which makes them difficult to view objectively.
With each of my choices, there were some decisions made by those men that I dislike. These men are not perfect by any means. Davis had his faults, as did Lamar, Jackson, Madison and Jefferson. I do think that they performed well as President given the challenges each of them faced.
Thank you once again for your comments, concerns and observations.
Very informative, JD. The worst president would probably be the current Bush - that's an easy one, but I've heard some who think it was Reagan. I don't agree, but interesting that some think so, ay?
Constant Walker,
Good to hear from you. In terms of the worst President, the comments from realist on 'on target'. It says more about the listmaker than the list. Many people dislike Bush II. I often see criticisms of Reagan and Clinton that fall along party lines. In terms of objectivity, the evaluator needs to consider whether the President held to the Constitution and improved liberty in the nation. Being in Texas, the Clinton debacle in Waco is a poignant reminder of his tenure, as is the Murrah building whom I share a name with. Under that administration, many second amendment freedoms were endangered along with the near takeover of the medical estblishment.
Reagan spent money that was not his. The amount of government indebtedness grew tremendously while he was in office. Since most of it was not authorized by the Constitution, it was of a dubious nature. The loss of economic freedoms under him was bad as well.
The regime of Bush I set up the whole NAFTA deal. I have pictures in my book of the signing ceremony when some of this mess started. Junior is catching heat for many policies put in place earlier. Under the current regime, we are at war, the value of the dollar is dropping like lead, the number of freedoms we have are decreasing, the intrusiveness of government is increasing and the Constituion has been gutted even further.
It is always interesting to hear peoples reasons for their choices of best/worst President. I still have not made up my opinion of the modern (1960-Now) Presidents. Since we have yet to see the full impact of their policies. They each have done some good and some bad. I still like George Walllace's saying of how "There's not a dimes worth of difference between them".
Best Regards,
J Murrah
While it's true, JD, that every president has had his shortscomings, no president has ever shown such blatant disregard for the Constitution and for the people of his country -- and the world -- as George W. Bush. George Wallace was dead wrong. It certainly made a huge difference in 2000 and 2004 that we elected a man and a political party that would go out of its way to start unnecessary, criminal wars for the sake of multinational corporations and oil while at the same time work to enrich the already wealthy at the expense of the poor and elderly -- all while making every effort to strip the guts out of our Constitution. Anyone who can look at all this, and much more, and still question who is the worst president must be living in a different world than the one that I inhabit.
Bush 2 has trashed the Constitution, the Treasury, foreign policy, the armed forces and the economy. It will take years to correct his depredations.
Most scholars, if memory serves, rate Lincoln number one and possibly FDR number 2 presidents. Your views are far out beyone the right field fence.
Wikipedia ranking;
Top 3: Washington, Lincoln, FDR
Next 7: Jefferson, T. Roosevelt, HST, DWE, Jackson, Wilson, JFK
Worst: Harding, Pierce, Buchanan
My list is far different, but I have to say that I greatly admire the exceptional research in this hub, your clear explanation of how you chose to gauge each commander in chief, and your out of the box thinking in compiling this list. Well done!
Ralph,
Although my ratings are 'beyond the right field fence' compared to the public, it could be that the public used a different means of measuring greatness than I did. The nature of the American nation is different now than at its founding. Although politicians change policies and laws, the values of the people for liberty have not changed. Currently many people look to government to solve their problems which is reflected in their choices. I view centralized government as the problem, as did many of my choices.The founders looked to themselves and their states rather than the central government, since it was the States that formed the central government in the first place.
I do agree with you on the actions of the current office holder.
Jerry G2,
Thank you for your comments. I was hoping that by giving my rationale that people would think through their own choices and reasons for them. I enjoy doing research. Too many people are ignorant of the accomplishment of previous generations, even here in the US.
Wow! You don't shrink from controversy do you? #2, barely, and this selection really good historical information. But #1? Not challenging your selection, just noting that this is a very unique choice...maybe not for you and your southern heritage. Proud of the USA for so uniquely allowing you to promote your views re: this information...ain't the USA just a completely great country?
Desert Blondie,
Your very perceptive. I thought that #2 would be the most contraversial. Even in Texas, there are many who see President Lamar as a do nothing, yet in researching him, I discovered otherwise. There are many people who almost worship Sam Houston. With Texans, people are with fans of Sam Houston or Stephen F. Austin. As a President, Houston did some amazing things, but I do not think what he did was worthy of the 'best' designation. He was often drunk or going through one of his manic episodes which detracts from his accomplishments.
I recognised that Davis would have some controversies. Keep in mind, the topic was best AMERICAN President. The CSA attempted maintaining the ideals of the founders, whilst the tyrant Lincoln (whom Bush II admires) wanted a strong central government (bear in mind Lincoln did not have a majority either. He was elected with only 39% of the vote. The election of someone with such a small percentage of the vote outraged many in the States. In my mind, there are great similarities between what Lincoln did and what Bush II has done).
Each nation (CSA and Yankee USA) represented a different view of the American ideals. Lincoln changed the nation forever from a republic of States into a more homogenous nation state, which is the opposite of what the founding fathers strove to achieve (with the exception of Hamilton).
It amounts to which executives promote the embodiemnt of self-reliance, liberty, free commerce, and non-centralised power. Some of the State governors stood up to Davis and called him onthings. Governor Murrah even threatned to take the CSA dollar out of circulation since it had lost its value so much ($500 CSA dollars for 1 oz of gold). Can you imagine if a present day Governor took the US dollar out of circulation since it has been devalued below the levels of the Confederate dollar? (Current US dollar is about $930 to 1 oz gold). Davis managed navigating through such crises, along with the terrible suffering of his imprisonment afterwards. Even when imprisoned (without trial), he did not curse or complain. The Yankees used various methods of harrassment to agitate him as well. I doubt that any of the modern Presidents could handle the kind of tortue he was subjected to and still maintain their composure. Would the modern office holder remain true to his beliefs in the midst of such treatment?
He remained maganamous even afterwards. He allowed any homeless soldier to stay on his property. Would any modern President allow those who served their government to stay on their property gratis? I doubt they would. We now days see pragmatism rather than conviction. We see policy based on public support rather than moral conviction.
"ain't the USA great? " Yes, it was even better when we had greater freedoms and leaders who fought to preserve our freedoms.
Thanks for your comments.
My personal opinion of worst president has little to do with politics and policies. It would definitely be the current Bush because I think the leader of the most powerful nation in the world should be more intelligent than the average red-neck featured on an episode of Jerry Springer. How are we, and the rest of the world, supposed to look up to and respect a man who is clearly an illiterate spoiled shit-head?
Is it election time yet?!?!
Constant Walker,
I am proud of my redneck heritage. Bush is NOT an average red-neck. He is not even a red-neck. The 'hick from Texas' image is a ploy. It is an insult to red-necks and Texans to imply that. He is a Yankee, trained and educated at Yale. He is no red-neck by any stretch of the imagination. True red-neck tradition goes back to the Scottish Presbyterian mindset of holding to traditional values.
Bush is not a traditional values man. He is a global pragmatist groomed from the womb. He is a third generation member of the establishment going back to Prescott Bush. A more accurate statement would be "I think the leader of the most powerful nation in the world should be more intelligent than the average 'Yale (Yalies I think they are called) trained Yankee' featured on an episode of Jerry Springer (or meet the press)' would be more in line.
Although I disagree with many of his policies, he is not as dumb as people say. His purchase of thousands of acerage in Uraguay several years ago suggests that there is a method to his decision making.
Constant Walker,
Here is a link to a site on the history of rednecks. (http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/rednecks/redne ) It is short and informative. You will see that the term redneck does not apply.
Wow, interesting. Well, half my ancestors on my father's side are Scottish... And "Yallies" may be snobbish turds, but I certainly wouldn't call them illiterate.
OK, so if not red-neck, how about idiot"? And, I've heard it said before that Bush is not as stupid as people think, and I would love to believe that, but everything thing I've heard him say and watched him do screams to the contrary.
This doesn't include the time he tried to open a locked door then stood there stone-faced and dumb-founded (there just are no words), but here's a small sample of our president's intelligence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYp8yPfE2JsGreat video, Constant Walker. However, it underplays Bush's stupidity. He would never have gotten into Yale but for his father and grandfather. In addition to not being very bright, he's lazy.
Constant Walker,
The video was priceless. I don't know if it is a matter of idiot or stupidity. As a counselor, I often wonder if it is the effects of alcohol abuse that we often see on display in the video. Since I have not me him I don't know for sure, but there are many tell tale signs of it.
i love how you put lamar and davis on this list. Ive always loved history and i enjoy reading up on all the various aspects of it. Nice colorfully written hub.
Thank you Annette,
My experience is that many people are short-sighted in their history, especially American history. Since the topic was American Presidents, I felt that I needed to include noteworthy Presidents of nations that were a part of America.
Ralph, agreed. And he certainly would not have become president... TWICE!
"Vote America! YOU can make a difference!" Ya, right...
Very good list! Too many people seem to equate "best" with foreign meddling and war mongering, more government control and mismanagement of the USA economy. Your list is realistic in that the theme appears to be rooted in peace and prosperity – as differentiated from possible lists from the fascists among us. One wonders why the “Greatest” are generally those associated with wars which have cost both lives and national wealth.
Budwood,
Thanks for your encouraging words. It seems that contemporary culture prefers the 'big government' Presidents that took away freedoms for the sake of give me programs. We need liberty. We need peace and we need prosperity which were the original American ideals as opposed to New World Order and governmetn interference type of leaders.
Really appreciated your "realist"ic and politically incorrect but accurate evaluation of Jeff Davis and your explanation of the firing on Fort Sumter. The revisionist hooey came from the victors and their brain washed minions. As for the much maligned George Wallace, he was right on when he said that there really isn't a "dimes worth of difference" between a Republican and a Democrat. IE. Not much difference between Bush or Obama except that one of them will get you into World Government and Bankruptcy a bit faster. All the Presidents since Woodrow Wilson have been in the back pocket of the International Bankers. G. Edward Griffin's book "Creature from Jekyll Island" is luminary on the subject.
Viewing American Presidents through the fallibility prism I would have to choose Jefferson and Jackson near the top, if for no other reason, because they thwarted the establishment of a Central Bank which prohibited the moneyed interests from printing Fiat Currency and stealing the county's wealth. Under the Jackson Administration there was NO NATIONAL DEBT. He opposed the bankers and paid the political and personal price.
There is very little appreciation for the founders of our Republic today because the post-modernist Keynesian Utopian dreamers believe in the illusion that the all-seeing eye represents. The false promise of salvation,peace and prosperity through the Matrix of the Universal Collective, otherwise known as the New World Order, is captivating to many but our freedom is the price tag.
I would welcome a comment from you on any of my Hubs. Larry
Larry,
Thank you for stopping by. I am glad that you liked the newest hub, http://hubpages.com/hub/President-Jefferson-Davis- I suspect that the more people know about history, in light of bankers, big business and others agencies of that nature, the more they will appreaciate the early Presidents and their policies of neutrality.
The Keynesian theory of economics has messed up America more than people often realize. The early Presidents had unique approaches to their policies and decisions. Today's elected leaders are pragmatists who only do what is necessary rather than following a theory or conviction.
My own theory is that the Constitution and the Republic died with Lincoln. The idea of the Republic, (or if you prefer Republic ideas, liberties and freedoms) perished with FDR. It was as if FDR put it our of any possibility of returning to what it once was. Instead of maintaining neutrality and avoiding entangling alliances as Washington warned us about, we are in the thick of entanglement.
George Wallace made an astute observation with his "not a dime's worth of difference" comment. You are correct that the only major difference is the rate of change that occurs.
I will visit your hubs and let you know what I think.
Thank You,
Jeff Murrah
I completely agree with Lincoln as the line of demarcation. The shredding of the Constitution and the first Income Tax began the death watch for the Republic. Some think that his repudiation of the Bankers offer to subsidise the war debt set in motion the plans for his assassination. The Lincoln Greenback was not well receive nor was Kennedy's issuance of US Notes.[Interesting Parallel] They hate non-interest bearing notes! I also agree that getting the word out is imperative and I am hoping to be of some service to the "Cause".
I very much appreciate your constructive comments and encouragement. This writing thing is new for me but I have loved history for some time. If you have time for another look-see at
http://faithwalkersite.com/2009/04/17/has-courtesy
I would be honored. Best Regards, L.L.
Larry,
Thank you for getting back. I visited the website. It was well constructed and informative. It encourages me that others are waking up and addressing issues that need attention. The writing thing is both fun and work. It is always good that there are people who write in the Spirit of Liberty, providing slat and light.
Best Regards,
Jeff Murrah
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Washington was the greatest president; he set the precedent for the others. If a president had greater character, I don't know who it was. Today, FDR looks small in the face of Ronald Reagan. FDR charmed Americans with his fireside chats and if that's all people want, he did a good job. Reagan was the true liberator president of the 20th century. I'm glad to see Truman rise in the rankings over the last few years. He was made of solid stuff, but he was still a political hack; he lacked the greatness of a Washington or a Reagan. I'm surprised as the contempt for George W. Bush by people who appear to be otherwise educated. Bush certainly will not go down as the worst president or even close to it. Bush rose to the occasion during a time of crisis. There were no other similar attacks under his watch. His shortcomings were those that come from attempting, but failing and not the failings of character. History will treat him well if we recover from this economic fallout and not so well if we do not. Good post. Thanks for the effort.
Bibowen,
Thank you for stopping by. George Washington was truly great, in terms of character and vision for the federal republic. If people would only take counsel at the feet of such a man, many of the problems faced by the States today would not be the major issues that they are. His modesty is something that many Presidents need to consider in their actions and comments.
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William F. Torpey says:
17 months ago
While my view of the best American presidents is vastly different, I very much appreciate the history as well as your views on those you cite here. Your devotion to Texas is apparent -- and praiseworthy. My choice for best president would be Harry Truman, followed closely by FDR and JFK. Some of our early presidents were great men, true, but the world was a much simpler place back then. Had you written of the worst president, the answer would be very easy because he's the incumbent (Oops, he was raised in Texas wasn't he! But he was born in New Haven, Conn.)