Who ever it is will be 5th on my top five of president excluding the founding fathers and those who have not been dead for 25 years.
2007-04-13 01:53:20 · 7 answers · asked by zginder 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
No contest...Truman. Kennedy was simply not that popular in his lifetime. He only beat Nixon by about 100,000 votes nationally and after the steel strike fiasco, the Bay of Pigs, etc., he was in real trouble with the public. The reason for his trip to Dallas was so that LBJ could help him to drum up votes for re-election. After his assassination, a myth developed. He would not be on my list.
2007-04-13 02:03:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Better" as to what? Truman was the right man at the right time following the death of FDR and the conclusion of WWII. Truman was also the man to keep the Commies at bay with the battles of the Korean War and had the ability to not "escalate" the thing with the Chinese.
JFK has an ability to reach the emotional part of people, due in part to his young age and untimely death. Still, JFK did accomplish alot during his brief 1,000 days in office. The Peace Corps is a stand out program and so to NASA (whose time has likely come to become something different).
"Better" at Government (overall) I would have to side with Truman - we do not know how JFK would have handled Viet Nam in 1968/69.
"Better" at reaching the general public I would have to side with JFK. His appeal to speak to the conscience of America has not been duplicated; however, was approached by Reagan and Clinton but never equalled.
Expand your question to include some "difinitive" points and maybe someone out there will better assist you. Interesting question though.
2007-04-13 02:13:35 · answer #2 · answered by Gerry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd have to say Truman for several reasons. First, he had the spine to do what needed to be done to wrap up the second world war and put an ememy who attacked us into their place with a good spanking. I wish a current president would have that kind of fortitude. Second, he never started any civil rights programs and other nonsense like social programs. Kennedy was really into that whole mess and look where it got us today.
2007-04-13 02:08:54 · answer #3 · answered by Sane 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Truman was a good president, but if you want to go by who had the most impact on society you would have to go with Kennedy. JFK inspired an entire generation of Americans to go beyond what they thought was possible. Yes he had his share of mistakes, the Bay of Pigs fiasco the primary example, but he had more than his share of triumphs. He championed civil rights, the space program, and the Peace Corp, all lasting examples of his legacy.
2007-04-13 02:22:01 · answer #4 · answered by Jester1959 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a tough one. Both were very good presidents. I would say Truman because of how short Kennedy's presidency was. Kennedy was a great public speaker, and an excellent campaigner, but we never got to see much of his leadership in action, he was only president for a short time before he was assassinated.
2007-04-13 02:03:47 · answer #5 · answered by truthspeaker10 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Kennedy wasn't really that popular or considered that good a president, if you want to see sleaze in politics you wont have to look much further than Kennedy's past and present. if he hadn't been assassinated its doubtful history would even remember him
2007-04-13 02:11:58 · answer #6 · answered by bruce m 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well truman is the only leader in world history to actually use nuclear war..........Kennedy did come close during the cuban missile crisis though.......both liked nuclear war so both were brain dead ..........Kennedy also got us in vietnam and that horrible bay of pigs disaster........they were both horrible.....its like picking between doo doo and poop...both stink
2007-04-13 01:58:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋