Excluding George W. Bush and Clinton, who was the worst president in this past century?

Question

I was going to say ever, but there some I;m not really familiar with like millard fillmore etc.

Answer 1

we have been on a roll backwards since nixon. historians generally credit buchanan as probably the worst president ever in that he couldn't keep the united states together and probably aided in its division through poor leadership that lead to the civil war.

if you look at the bush presidency it is coming pretty close -- a strongly divided nation, the katrina fiasco, the 9/11 fiasco, the war for oil, the fed trying to print money faster than the government can spend it -- i kind of think of bush as buchanan and coolidge/hoover (the guys responsible for the rise and collapse of wall street and the depression through pure economic inbalance and stupidity on both their parts) rolled up into one. i think historians will agree 20 yrs from now -- they probably do now but are just kind of reluctant to say so.

Answer 2

I wouldn't count Clinton as the worst President. Aside from George W. Bush, I would have to say that Richard Nixon was about the worst President ever. The man had no respect for the Constitution of the United States, I think there's a very real possibility that if not for a Congress not be willing to impeach him he would've found some way to hold on to power in 1976 - such as making up some emergency to have an excuse to cancel the elections.

Answer 3

It would have to be between Carter and Nixon.

In all fairness, Nixon tried to do somethings worthwhile. His attempts to stop inflation were futile, but his ambitions to bring China into the 20th century were successful. The case for being the worst had a lot to do with his mental condition, he believed he could do what ever he wanted.

Carter was a complete failure as president. If you didn't experience it, you wouldn't believe it. Inflation out of control, gas lines, interest rates at 20% plus, and his total failure approving a doomed plan to rescue the hostages in Iran. He was incompetent at being a president. The only good thing about Jimmy Carter was the humor in Billy, his brother.

It's a draw!

Answer 4

Nixon wins. Although Carter was ineffective as a president, he didn't bring scandal on the White House like Nixon did.

Carter's ineffectiveness can be traced directly to his experience. He had none in Washington and was unfamiliar with the power plays that govern what gets done. In short, he was too good a man for a dirty job.

Nixon understood the power plays and used them. His major failing was he used government resources to spy on the competition and then got caught. In getting caught, he lied about it. In lying about it, he tried to cover it up and destroyed evidence. In short, he was a career politician who thought he was too smart to get caught and found out he wasn't.

In contrast to Nixon, Clinton never abused his government powers. Yeah, he had sex with an intern, then denied it, but he did not use his presidential authority to get the intern or to cover it up. By the way 99% of men will tell you that getting a ******** is not having sex so he is no different from them.

Answer 5

Watergate Nixon

Answer 6

Well, since you took George W out, I'm not sure. I liked Clinton, except for that whole Monica thing. Other than that, I think Tricky Dicky was pretty bad. Breaking the law like that?! He's the top executive, meaning he's the person who should enforce the law the most, but he didn't...idiot

Answer 7

The most inept president in the last century was definitely Jimmy Carter, while he was president inflation was 21% interest rates were 21% the Dow Jones was around 900 he was a disaster.

Answer 8

I do not think there is no one is Bad as Bush!! Look Everyone in the whole Country hates Him!! all the Republicans, Democrats, are against him!! I think his family is not to fond of him also Because he is not a leader, Not a President, Not A Role Model the way he is handling that War in Iraq. is Really Crazy!! why is he so Obsessed About Helping those People in Iraq. What we are doing is all well in Good. But he is going to far with this war and spending all of that Money!! it is not worth it!! the money Can be used right here in the good ole USA.

Answer 9

Herbert Hoover

Answer 10

Lyndon B. Johnson...historians cite this as the reason for Johnson's failure in the Oval Office...Frustration over Vietnam; too much federal spending and . . . taxation; no great public support for your Great Society programs; and . . . public disenchantment with the civil rights programs.
Additionally, At Kennedy's death, there were 16,000 American military advisors in Vietnam. Johnson expanded their numbers and roles. By 1968 there were 550,000 American soldiers inside Vietnam; in 1967 and 1968 they were being killed at the rate of over 1000 a month.
Now, to pick Johnson was a stretch, as each presidency has it triumphs and mistakes. I worry that Bush is causing another Viet Nam.....he truly has been the worst, overall, in our short history.