Why do people think JFK and FDR were great presidents?

Answer 1

Well, FDR is the president who lead us through MOST of WWII. He died months before Germany then Japan surrendered.

JFK was a subsequent president who tried to embrace the WWII FDR model of building a democracy elsewhere in the world when he escalated the "conflict" in Vietnam. LBJ also embraced this idea after Kennedy's assasination, and we got our butt kicked by a third-world nation.

They were both Democratic presidents in the 20th century. FDR laid the cornerstone for liberal democrats with his "fix" to the Great Depression of the early '30s. He fixed nothing but got elected to president three or four times.

It was WWII that saved him, but you aren't going to hear that much these days due to the media being filled with so many of his disciples. FDR's supporters are about gone due to old age, and JFK's supporters are thinning every day due to time wearing on.

Let's see. That's about it. If my little brain can think of something else later, it will be added then.

Answer 2

They weren't really. If it was a choice I would say JFK was the better President, but both had a very dark side and cheated on there wife's. But FDR in my opinion was a bad President. Why he never should have run for a 3rd or 4th term for one. Second when his health was failing everyone of his staff knew it and let him continue with foreign policy which lead to eastern Europe being given to the Soviets the same way Czechoslovakia was given to Hitler.

Answer 3

Because they were good and strong leaders that faced tough challenges.

FDR came in during the depression and instituted many programs aimed at helping all the poor and unemployed. He had mixed results, but at least he was acting firmly to try and resolve the situation. Later, he lead us through WWII, successfully. All the while, he made American's believe that someone was firmly in charge and leading us out of the hazards.

JFK, had a mixed record as president, botching the Bay of Pigs, but successfully negotiating the Cuban Missile Crisis. He gave America tough goals and brought a new way of thinking into the White House. Starting the Race to the moon and the Peace Corp are two big accomplishments. Everything points to him making the right decisions had he not been murdered. He was most likely going to get us out of Vietnam, and he was pushing for tax cuts to help the economy grow. This is what I consider the "What might have been" factor, and results in Kennedy getting credit for things he might have accomplished had he lived, thus making him a great president.

Answer 4

Very good question. JFK almost got us into a nuclear war. He was instrumental in esclating Vietnam. I suspect many people feel sorry for him because of the assassination.

As for FDR, I do think he was a great President mostly because of his ability to appeal to the public. However, there are many economists that believe he actually prolonged the depression because of his tax policies. Many believe that if he had been more of a libertarian, the depression would have only lasted 6-7 years, not 16!

Answer 5

History determines how a leader will be regarded to a much greater extent than any of that leader's accomplishments. Both FDR and JFK occupied the White House at the precise times when the gravity of world events would have propelled almost any of our Presidents in to the historical limelight of semi-immortality and legend. Lincoln is a prime example of this history-driven phenomenon. Lincoln succeeded in preserving the Union at a cost in lives, liberties and treasure so great as to still be the subject of heated debate even today. Lincoln adopted tyrannical and authoritarian means in order to achieve his ends. And, as the saying goes, "the end does not justify the means."

President Bush was just reminded of that old saying by a panel of federal judges. A constitutional republic derives only its JUST powers from the consent of the governed---not UNJUST powers. This prevents a sitting President from stirring up the mob in order to justify his actions---or, at least, it should.

Answer 6

FDR was a great president for leading us through WWII - no small feat I assure you. JFK was a brave man and had some great ideas, but frankly the only reason he is considered a "great" president is because he was killed before his time. Who knows how his presidency would have been remembered had he lived?

Answer 7

i don't know. Maybe JFK averted an attack during the Cold War through diplomacy with Kruschev and FDR pulled the country out of depression with the help of the New Deal, though the war economy is really what did it.
Maybe they were gifted leaders able to rally the country's support.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." FDR
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." JFK

Answer 8

FDR helped pull the United States out of the great depression. JFK died tragicly before really doing anything great, however people had had high hopes for what he would have accomplished.

Answer 9

People think JFK because he stood up to Russia, and maybe because he was the youngest and arguably the most charismatic president. In truth, he was not an especially "good" president in many other respects.
FDR, otoh, was a truly great president. Yes, he was despised by many, but it is hard to second guess his policies because he was successful in righting the country following its darkest hour.

Answer 10

JFK because he was assinated and FDR because of the WWII and the great depression. other wise they were both very weak.