Who's the greatest U.S. president of all time?

1. 92

   habeeposted 13 years ago

   Ronald Reagan, according the Friday's Gallup poll. I was shocked to see that George Bush and Thomas Jefferson tied. Who answers these polls?? I don't think W was as evil as many libs do, but to compare him to the brilliant Jefferson is a joke.
   
   http://www.gallup.com/poll/146183/Ameri … ident.aspx

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   1. 70

      Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Just about all historians rate Lincoln Number one, Washington or FDR two and three.

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      1. 60

         uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         FDR third just goes to show there are some painfully stupid historians in America.

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         1. 60

            TomC35posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Ah yes, because you have bias you think men who studied far more history than you probably ever will, are stupid.  Your comment alone says that you are..well..

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            1. 60

               uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I have a degree in History and have found historians to be perfectly corrected and unerring in everything. Thank goodness we have these angels among us and that they are not subject to the same foolishness as we mere mortals.  Thank goodness for plagiarists and liberal hacks who parade themselves on NPR,PBS and C-Span as paragons of historiographical virtue.
               
               Tell Doris Kerns Goodwin I said Hi.
               
               Oh yes and by the way have the guts to let your jerk flag fly and call someone stupid when you mean too.  It will no doubt redound to your benefit among the smart set at the hookah and samovar cafe tomorrow. "Guess what fellow smarties, I called someone who expressed his opinion stupid. What a mad panic I am. (girlish giggle)."

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            2. 60

               uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Oh and one more thing.  One of the first things you learn when writing your first honest to goodness historical work(not the little papers everyone writes) is that everyone is biased and that it is nearly impossible to expunge all bias from your work.

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         2. 61

            Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            true dat.

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      2. 92

         habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I'd rate Jefferson and Lincoln #1 and #2, but I'm not a historian.

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         1. 60

            uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Jefferson, great supporter of the crazy French Revolution?  The man who couldn't run his own financial affairs well enough to free his slaves.  The same slaves who had to be sold off to satisfy his debts. I would put Jefferson in the top 10 but no way #1.  Washington and Lincoln  #1 & #2 0r #2 & #1 depending on the criteria.  The tiers drop off rapidly after those 2.

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   2. 59

      solar10posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I would say: Lincoln No1, Washington No 2, , and Theodore Roosevelt No 3.

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   3. 86

      I am DB Cooperposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Relevant: http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/68201
      
      Why does it take a satirical site like The Onion to point out that whenever anyone brings up those "Reagan ideals" they almost never apply to what Ronald Reagan actually did during his presidency, but they do usually apply to Dwight Eisenhower?

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2. 92

   habeeposted 13 years ago

   In 2006, Political Psychology argued that Jefferson was the most brilliant POTUS of all. From what I've read about him, I agree!

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   1. 60

      uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Jefferson might very well have been the smartest man to ever be President but he wasn't the smartest at being Pres.

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      1. 61

         Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         True dat!
         
         If only Jefferson didn't sell out when he became pres!

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3. 61

   tony0724posted 13 years ago

   No one gives Andrew Jackson any love.

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   1. 61

      Written By Jimposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      There many very good reasons for that. Most are buried along the "Trail of Tears."

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4. 60

   KristenGraceposted 13 years ago

   As just an American, not a historian or holder of any type of history degree... I would rate Abe Lincoln pretty high...
   
   Next might be JFK   Can't help it.

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5. 66

   Flightkeeperposted 13 years ago

   I'd put Washington as 1, Lincoln as 2, and Theodore Roosevelt as 3.

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   1. 60

      uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      TR was an amazing man, I think Mt. Rushmore has it right.  TR, however, was a progressive.

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      1. 66

         Flightkeeperposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Don't mistake the term progressive with the same meaning that the loony libs attribute to it.  A lot of the progressive movement had to do with rooting out corruption, finding ways to reduce waste and inefficiency, reforms to make the municipalities and government effective, and belief in family.  You shouldn't let the loony libs take ownership of the progressive movement.

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            uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            The roots of contemporary progressives are sunk among progressives at the turn of the previous century including TR.

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            1. 66

               Flightkeeperposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               True but I would say the contemporary progressive brought it to a totally different level where TR might not even recognize it.

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6. 61

   Evan G Rogersposted 13 years ago

   The best president ever will be Ron Paul.

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   1. 60

      uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Well if being a nut job makes you a great president than you are right.  If only Ross Perot had been elected pres. the list could have 2 on it.

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      1. 61

         Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         how can you be for Jefferson "pre-presidency", but be against Ron Paul?
         
         It's like loving Coke, but hating Pepsi...

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   2. 61

      tony0724posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      If he bumps off the Fed Reserve, he would get my vote. It's just a cartel for the Rothchilds.

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      1. 60

         uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         If you had stopped after the eliminate the federal reserve I could play that game.  I just can't do the global conspiracy thing - too nutty for my blood.  I like my ideas smooth not extra chunky.

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7. 59

   logic,commonsenseposted 13 years ago

   Washington.  He quit after 2 terms even though he probably could have been president as long as he wanted.  Something present day politicians could follow.
   Lincoln and Jefferson have to be right up there with him.  Lincoln had to save a country from being divided and I am not sure anyone else at the time could have done it.  The strength, the resolve and the character he displayed has been unparalled since.

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   1. 60

      uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Washington is my pick as well though I can see a tremendous argument on Lincoln's behalf.  After those two the field fades rapidly with number three being far behind.

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8. 67

   AnnCeeposted 13 years ago

   I think Washington's war was more impossible.  It took miracles.  Lincoln used every advantage brilliantly.

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   1. 60

      uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I would politely disagree, but history is replete with disagreements polite, impolite and violent.

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      1. 75

         Castlepalomaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Bill Clinton the best because of high on production and low on wars, maybe GW Bush the worst.

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   2. 86

      I am DB Cooperposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      England was at a huge disadvantage in the American Revolution. Fighting a war thousands of miles from home is difficult today, and I'm sure it was even worse 200+ years ago. A war of attrition gives a big advantage to the "home team", because the invading military has to use too many resources to ship in supplies.
      
      Perhaps if England had been able to form stronger ties with more Native American tribes they would have had a chance, but as it was they stood little chance of squashing the independence movement.

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      1. 59

         logic,commonsenseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         At least until the colonists got Twitter and Facebook!

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9. 61

   Rajab Nsubugaposted 13 years ago

   When was America greatest? I think the answer lies in this question. And depending on what you consider great. For one I think the greatest president you ever had was one who came face to face with America's worst fears and that was A. Lincoln

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10. 60

    Doug Hughesposted 13 years ago

    I think Jefferson. His vision of America as a simple agrarian society was flawed, but who could have foreseen the industrial revolution. I saw some pretty absurd criticism that he didn't become rich enough. I suspect it's true he didn't pay as much attention to farming as he did to the promotion of democracy, and the concept of the natural rights of man but that's symptomatic of patriotism. He did support the French Revolution - the French supported our revolution. Nobody knew going into those events could have know what the outcome would be. Supporting the French aristocracy and their oppression would have been wrong. Jefferson was later a fierce critic of Boanaparte. 
    
    I agree with the selection of Lincoln and Both Roosevelts, Teddy amd FDR. JFK was a visionary. In the next 6 years we will see Obama's ability to negotiate seriously tested because we MUST confront the fiscal problems without abandoning our social obligations. He may make the list.

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11. 61

    Rajab Nsubugaposted 13 years ago

    If you are a hubber and you can not spot a difference between coke and pepsi then you must undertake a marketing tutorial.

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    1. 61

       Rajab Nsubugaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       That was aimed at Evans G not Hughes.

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    2. 61

       Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       right, but if you go to a restaurant, and you order coke, but they say "we have pepsi", do you change your order?
       
       No of course not. They're basically the same thing.

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12. 60

    wilsontomposted 13 years ago

    i would say Abraham lincoln, he was true american

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13. 72

    Iontachposted 13 years ago

    George Washington! Duh. lol

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14. 61

    DTR0005posted 13 years ago

    I will be the first one to mention Richard Nixon. He tried and succeeded at "cooling down" the Cold War, got us out of Vietnam, opened up relations, hell, "recongized" mainland China, and was really the last of the non-ideologue Republican presidents. He certainly doesn't rank in the top 5, but he should certainly be considered within the top 10. The good far outweighs the stigma of Watergate.

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    1. 60

       Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       He brought the EPA into being. But he was a hateful bastard.

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       1. 61

          DTR0005posted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Lolll yeah, he was a hateful bastard, but as Ben Stein put it, "he was a compassionate conservative..."

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15. 60

    frynchposted 13 years ago

    Teddy Roosevelt was the last great president. he stood up to the fat-cat industrialists and got us our National Forests

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    1. 61

       Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       all those jerks who made jobs for thousands and made countless every day items cheaper to own!
       
       I HATE THEM!!!

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16. 73

    Mighty Momposted 13 years ago

    I just saw poll results for this exact question and there were some interesting choices:
    
    #1. Ronald Reagan
    #2. Abraham Lincoln
    #3. Bill Clinton
    #4. JFK
    #5. George Washington
    
    I will find link to the poll if anyone cares.

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    1. 67

       DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I might agree with four of these five, but Bill Clinton disgusts me as a human being, so will never be in my top five for anything. A. Lincoln is a personal favorite of mine, so much so that I hubbed about him.  He overcame so much and still became president. He showed enormous humility and character during his presidency in a time when our country was ripped apart.

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    2. 86

       I am DB Cooperposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Reagan and JFK would probably not make my top 10, let alone my top 5. It seems Americans only know about recent presidents and the big 3: Washington, Lincoln, and JFK. Even Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt are b-level celebrities compared to the big 3. I wonder what percentage of people answering this poll could explain anything specific about Ronald Reagan's economic policy other than the mantra "he lowered taxes".

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17. 73

    Mighty Momposted 13 years ago

    Good points, I Am DB Cooper.
    Not to mention marching into battle in bright red coats and silly hats.

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18. 59

    knolyourselfposted 13 years ago

    What did you do with the money?

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19. 61

    Tom Koeckeposted 13 years ago

    Abraham Lincoln gets my nod.
    
    1. He defied logic by taking advantage of every break life never gave him.
    2. He defied gravity by becoming the greatest president even though he was surrounded by three of the worst (Pierce, Buchanan, and A. Johnson).
    3. He defied math by taking one divided into two and coming out with one.
    
    If Lincoln had failed to keep the union together, who knows how differently things would have turned out four score later.

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    1. 61

       Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       He didn't keep the union together.
       
       He dissolved the union and made it mandatory.
       
       If they South wasn't allowed to leave when it wanted, in what sense was it a Union?

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       1. 61

          Tom Koeckeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          "I hold that, in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution, the Union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments. It is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination."  - From his 1st inaugural address
          
          "Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came."  - From his 2nd inaugural address
          
          Lincoln did not dissolve the union. The Confederacy attempted to dissolve the union. The USA still exists. He preserved the union by not accepting the Confederacy's attempt to dissolve it.

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20. 61

    VENUGOPAL SIVAGNAposted 13 years ago

    Mr.Ralph Deeds is correct.
    It is Abraham Lincoln in No.1 slot.
    George Washington will come next.

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