Of the first 42 U.S. Presidents, which one has been rated the worst?

Question

(up to the current president, excludes George Bush)

Answer 1

Bucannon (sp?) is usually considered to be the worst. He was the president before Lincoln, and in the period between the election and Lincoln's inauguration, when Southern states started to secede, he did nothing.

Answer 2

Out of all 42 Presidents President George Bush (THE SON) is rated the worst.

Answer 3

James Buchanan and Herbert Hoover are usually considered the worst presidents. Buchanan was considered one of the worst presidents because he really didn't do anything to try and prevent the American Civil War. He just let everyone's tempers boil. Then there is poor Herbert Hoover. He gets credited for being the worst president because he was in office when the stock market crashed and couldn't really resolve the Great Depression. Some people just don't have any luck!

Answer 4

The winner hands down as being the worst both with his foreign and domestic policies was JIMMY CARTER.

Not only did we have record inflation and long lines at the gas pump, but under his watch the hostages were taken in Iran and when he sent our depleted military to rescue the hostages, the military got lost in a sand storm!

When I hear Jimmy Carter today talk about how bad Bush policies are, I can't help but laugh. Carter was an embarrassment! Today he's a good dude, building homes for the poor, but as President, he was the worst.

Answer 5

It is too soon to evaluate George HW Bush or Clinton or George W Bush. My money is on you Bush-bashers losing that argument come 2036 or so. Clinton will not be far from the bottom. Once his prized programs are dismantled because they are unsustainable as Friedman predicted 50 years ago, FDR will drop a number of notches. The case for Carter as the worst (which I need not repeat as it is well said below) is compelling. If the post-presidential period were to be considered, it is Carter hands down, as he just makes a bigger and bigger fool of himself. One need look no further than his new anti-American, anti-Israel, pro-Arab, pro-dictator book.

Picking Truman because of his decision to drop the bombs??? One has to consider the alternative. Japan would never have surrendered. The Allies would have had to invade Japan en masse. The fierce defense of their homeland would have resulted in easily ten times as many Japanese dead. Hundreds of thousands of American soldiers would have been killed. Of course the incomparable tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is to be regretted and mourned. However, Truman's decision was absolutely necessary and the right one.

Answer 6

I would have to say Jimmy Carter. The morale around the country was at an all time low, he had hostages taken during his presidency, (ironically let out the first day Reagan was sworn into office, I think they were afraid of what Reagan would do) interest rates were extremely high, should i continue.

Good thing though was that he was followed by one of the greatest presidents ever with Ronald Reagan

Answer 7

I'd have to say Abe Lincoln as per capita more Americans died under his regime than any other president. His war of extermination on the Indians and sending his best generals out west while the Union troops were being slaughtered on the battlefields, all becaues he did want to run against a general come election time. Then the story of the repeating rifles not being issued because of kickbacks from the Springfield arms Company. Yeah this guy would leave Hitler and Franko in his wake.

Answer 8

Historically, Herbert Hoover gets a huge slab of blame on his plate for the Great Depression.

Today, many people would without hesitation say Bush.

Answer 9

George Bush..duhhhhhh Even if you wanted to exclude him, my vote for worse still goes to him grrrrrr i hate him

Answer 10

Millard Fillmore.