Whose your favorite American president EVER and why?

Question

FAVORITE, not least favorite. FAVORITE.

For me, Lincoln.

He didn't just do great things, but he did them in an atmosphere of incredible adversity. He didn't set out to end slavery, but its evils became so apparent to him that he had to.

There were many who hated him, even other members of his own administration. They said terrible things about him. They compared him to an ape, they made fun of his "unsophisticated" manner of speech. They said he was a war monger trying to plunder the wealthy agricultural assets of the south. They said that he lied to get them to go to war. (His initial pretext for war was to preserve the Union, in 1864 he shifted the focus to slavery.) They said the war was illegal, that it violated the tenth amendment.

He dealt with constant attacks every day, but kept going because he believed what he was doing, protecting the interest of the country and freedom, was right. That's why he's my favorite. Who's yours?

Yea, jefferson is one of my top 5 too.

Washington, father of our country, another good choice. He's my number two. He did perhaps the most important single act of any president, and that was to not grab power when he could have. It's set an example for the world.

Great answers!

Answer 1

GEORGE WASHINGTON - The father of our country, a man of the people, and an outstanding General who fought and suffered with his men as they fought and suffered. Gave the power back without question when called upon to do so.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN - Yes it was about slaverly, but more so it was about preserving the Union and uniting the country once again. There wouldn't be a United States left if not for Lincoln.

RONALD REAGAN - For creating 17 million jobs, lowering the inflation rate from 13% to 4%, increasing the average family income by 12%, cutting black unemployment in half, and for luring the USSR into an arms race that he new it couldn't afford and defeating the communist threat without ever firing a shot.

HARRY TRUMAN - For fighting our enemies in World War II with the intent to WIN! For having the GUTS to use the atomic bomb on Japan, saving an estimated 1 million US lives by eliminating the need for a land invasion, and stopping after only using two atomic bombs (how many do you think the Nazi's or the Japanese would have used on the US?)

THOMAS JEFFERSON - Author of the declaration of independence, and president during the time of the Lousiana Purchase that essentially DOUBLED the size of the United States for pennies per acre!

ABSOLUTE WORST PRESIDENTS OF ALL TIME:
1. James Buchanon (policies caused the Civil war)
2. Bill Clinton (911 planned under his nose for 3 years)
3. Calvin Coolidge (policies caused stock market crash of 1929)
4. FDR - Failure to deal with Nazis BEFORE they rose to power.
5. Jimmy Carter - 13% inflation, gas shortages, hostages in Iran.

Answer 2

For me (a Brit) it would be JFK, but you can chalk up a great deal of admiration for Lincoln - not actually being an American I'm not sufficiently familiar with all the history.

But I can remember the sense of excitement when JFK came into office, and the feeling that he was somehow special and calling out the best in everybody - the Peace Corps made a huge impact; we were all so frightened during the Cuba missile crisis and hugely relieved when it was over, and of course later the details started to come out - about how the generals wanted to go to war and JFK resisted them and worked like blazes to find the other guy (i.e. Kruschev) a bridge so that he could climb down gracefully. Also we remember his stand on civil rights, which was an incendiary issue at the time.

Everybody I knew was in tears when he was killed - not just the adults, but also us teenagers. And on my first trip to DC I went straight to Arlington to see the grave of him and his brother and was in tears again.

I've looked back many times and wondered whether my admiration is just naivety and that cynicism about politicians hadn't had time to set in; but I don't think so. He was a President for the world, and we haven't had one like that since.

Answer 3

Jefferson. His personal life may have been a touch irregular, but the principles he promoted - secularism, justice, equality - are more important now than ever.

P.S. I think some of the other contributors to this post may overestimate the influence of the US President - and that of the US! Reagan may have done great things for America's self-image, but he had very, very little to do with the fall of Communism (tho' I'm sure he would have liked to claim credit for it). Likewise, Bill Clinton can be blamed for many things, but failing to prevent 9/11 is not really among them. I'm curious to know exactly what FDR could have done against the rulers of Germany in a period of intense isolationism. And so on. US presidents are mainly figureheads. It is the values they embody, not necessarily their personal decisions, that are historically important. And on that basis, Lincoln and Kennedy would be second equal.

Answer 4

Franklyn D Roosevelt and Harry Truman were the best US presidents. They were friends of King Peter the 2nd of Yugoslavia, and of General Draza Mihailovic, may God avenge his death, and I think they would turn in their graves in dismay if they knew what kind of assholes are running the US in the last 20 years.

Answer 5

In my life time, Reagan. History, Lincoln.

Lincoln's unpopular decisions remind me of the situation Bush is in today.

Answer 6

Ronaldus Magnus! He saved and rebuilt the military.

Answer 7

Ronald Reagan. If it wasn't for him I think we wouldn't even be writing this right now. It was his policies that allowed the world to really progress and achieve the high quality of life we enjoy today.

Answer 8

George Washington. He could have been emperor but surrendered his power when his two terms were up.

Answer 9

Ford. He waved to me when I was with my family stopped on the side of the road to watch his motorcade go by.

Answer 10

i agree, Lincoln 1st, Clinton 2nd.