Which 20th century American president do you think contributed the most to the US?

Answer 1

Ronald Regan

Answer 2

Theodore Roosevelt (Rep.) 1901-1909: Teddy Roosevelt was the first President to travel outside the country, and essentially the model by which all presidents that followed would make and shape their own foreign policies. His administration founded the first meat and produce inspections and established the very first standard of anything for the meat packing industry. That legacy lives on today in the form of the USDA, and the FDA. He established the first national parks and forest preserves in American history. He was a war hero and an excellent diplomat he saw the most prosperous and progressive America of the twentieth century. I'd go so far as to say he was the greatest American president ever.

Answer 3

From a non-American perspective, I'd have to say Ronald Reagan for winning the Cold War by outspending the USSR (along with Margeret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II of course) - let's face it, the US and the West simply spent more money and eventually after Chenobyl Gorbachev (the first pragmatic leader the USSR ever had) threw in the towel.

or ...

...FDR for his actions that first ended the Great Depression of the thirties with the New Deal, then bent the law in order to give Europe and Stalins Russia Lend-Lease material until the American people were ready to support a war.

What a genius he was, apart from ending the effects of the Great Depression of the 1930's with the New Deal he knew that the American people wouldn't support an attack on Germany, so he came up with Lend-Lease. This unimaginable outpouring of military material and support kept Britain from starvation and kept Stalin in the war(how does 1200 locomotives just to the USSR sound, not to mention thousands of tonnes of food and fuel etc :)

Then after Pearl Harbour, he allowed his military commanders like Chester Nimitz, Admiral King, and MacArthur to build their forces and win the war in the Pacific their way. In the European theatre Gen. George Marshall and Eisenhower were given the freedom and political support to just get the job done.

so, overall, considering that if the US had kept to their isolationist and disarmament policies of the 1930's then world hegomony would have gone by default to Germany and Japan, I'd say you have to give it to FDR, for without him, the cold war might have been against a Nazi Germany that won the Second World War...

I've included some links below also.

Answer 4

Ronald Reagan. He brought back pride in being an American and a comfort. The standing up to the USSR and the Berlin wall removal changed the cold war. FDR many say here was the best, but if you take in account the thousands that died in WW2 as well he had the nuclear bomb initiated and social security, that is now used to trace every American and not in all good ways. He is not one of my favorites as well hid his cripple legs from the public for years. He had more time in office than any president and used war to keep his throne of power.

Answer 5

Theodore Roosevelt, President of the USA from 1901 to 1909. An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, he established the national park system.

Answer 6

Ronald Reagan

Answer 7

I would say Franklin Roosevelt had the most influence. Some people may not think it was the most contributing , but he was a leader in a very difficult time.

Answer 8

I really haven't had time to gather up facts because most of my life has been spent under the influence of some policy or another, of all things ,the president does serve as a focus point ,while the tide ripples or waves high and low. thanks for the Q.

Answer 9

Franklin D. Roosevelt - he got us out of the Great Depression while he prepared us for war. He was there during America's darkest hour. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D_Roosevelt for more information.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

FD Roosevelt is obviously the best.. he bailed out the country out of the great economic depression.. the policies made at those period of time were very crucial and his decisions were indeed on of the best of all time..