Who was the best President of the United States?

Question

Based on long-term benefits for the country, or whatever criteria you think is most important in the Executive.

Answer 1

Washington. Was president at the dawn of this country & had to deal with some real unscrupulous Founding Fathers. Set the tradition of two terms, save for FDR. Set the standard for future presidents.

Monroe. Established the Monroe Doctrine, which was recognized by Great Britain. Basically established the US as a power in this hemisphere.

Lincoln. President at the most critical time in this nation's history, the Civil War. Was not shy about replacing ineffective commanders. After the war, citizens were no longer "Virginians", "New Yorkers", etc., they were "Americans". I believe his assassination caused long term harm in the reconstruction of the south & racial relations. He was not out to punish the south, but make them inclusive again.

Theodore Roosevelt. Progressive in breaking up monopolies & establishing the parks system. Helped lay the foundation for the modern navy. Projected an aura of adventurism & living life to the fullest.

Franklin Roosevelt. Recognized that government had to play an active role in people's lives during the Great Depression. A lot of people ***** & cry about the policies, but people needed to eat & have hope. Provided funds for the Army Air Corps' bomber program which led to developing strategic aircraft like the B-24 & B-29. Good judgement in picking excellent people such as George Marshall, Chester Nimitz, Ernest King, & Dwight Eisenhower to run the war effort. Broke the tradition of two terms by being elected to four.

07-01-06 1630:
I hope this guy Stussey isn't serious. The U.S. had no right to declare war on Japan after Pearl Harbor? We should've used diplomacy? There WAS diplomacy up to the time of the attack.
And why did we fight Germany? Hitler declared war on the U.S. a few days after Pearl Harbor. He believed by doing so, Japan would return the favor by declaring war on the U.S.S.R., which it never did.
When another country declares war on yours, the best thing to do is get ready to fight then defeat them. Kind of a crazy concept, but you do what you gotta do.

Answer 2

That is a hard question. Alot of people said Kennedy, Kennedy was a socialist read his ides, FDR maybe but the only thing he did was WWII and sent several thousands of Americans to die in Europe, for what? To control a terrorist? That is uncalled for and horrible don't care if Japan attacked Pearl Harbor we had no right where were there weapons why didn't we try diplomatic means first like we did with Iraq. To many opinions about presidents.

Answer 3

From a totally uninformed, non-American, it-was-all-before-I-was-born perspective (I'm definitely objective on this one!) I would say Abraham Lincoln really had a very lasting positive effect on your country by ending the barbaric practice of slavery.

A close second, though from a far more culturally speaking point of view, is John F. Kennedy. He seemed to cause a lot of people to change their attitudes, not just on the subject of race relations but America's attitude to America seemed to change a lot over that period of time and I think the Kennedy government had a lot to do with that.

Answer 4

Teddy Roosevelt was the best President this country has ever had. He knew how to kick *** and take name, instead of being a politically correct , noise making coward. When he went into a fight, it was to win. We have not done that since WWII. We don't bother to fight to win, as long as we can get our politicians names in the history books , kill a generation of young people, and then pay off our enemies to go away. Political correctness is not a valued characteristic in a real leader. But then we don't have any real leaders anyway, do we?
BSG

Answer 5

I think the best president in my lifetime would be Reagan, although I think history will look pretty favorably on GWB when all is said and done. We really don't have the scope to see how things will turn out in the long run.
But I think Washington was the best overall, for no other reason than he turned down an offer to become king. Now I ask you, who in Washington D.C. today would do something as noble as that?

Answer 6

Thomas Jefferson.

Answer 7

Teddy Rooseveldt

Answer 8

Washington...

.. so much to loose, noting but an 'idea' to gain, and turned down a kingship

The most humble of all presidents.. in fact he's the only president that is the least political, - and you've gotta love him for that reason alone!!

Answer 9

Reagan and Washington were the best.
Lincoln, Kennedy, Clinton, and FDR were some of the worst, so I don't know why everyone else on here says they're the best.

Answer 10

Bill Clinton