Is Ronald Reagan the Greatest American Ever?

Question

In this poll He edged out Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King.

George Washington, the first US president who is considered the father of the nation, comes in at fourth place.

Current US President George W Bush #6 and his predecessor Bill Clinton #7 , whose presidency was tarnished by the Monica Lewinski sex scandal, are both in the top 10.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4631421.stm

I personally put him as the third best president behind Lincoln and Washington. The worst american and president of all time is Jimmy Carter.

You know you are great when other countries are building statues of you;

Warsaw to erect statue to Reagan

"Polish admirers of Ronald Reagan say they will erect a statue of the late US president in Warsaw to thank him for helping to end communist rule."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5366992.stm

Answer 1

Among the greatest. Certainly the greatest president.

Answer 2

Are you kidding? If Reagan was president, he would be trading arms for the hostages like he did in the Iran Contra deal or call the pirates freedom fighters like he did Osama Bin Ladin or just get Americans the heck out like he did after the barracks bombing in Lebannon killed 200+ US Marines. Reagan wasn't a tough guy, he just played one on TV and conservative Republicans have revised history (lied) to make it seem like Reagan was some mythic leader when he wasn't. Reagan's greatness is so much propaganda and whitewashing. He was a front man who read his lines well. He didn't face off to the USSR, he negotiated with them until they fell because of internal mismanagement and strife. Obama needs to stop listening to the Right wing and just do the right thing. These goofballs will complain no matter what he does so he should do what is best for the country.

Answer 3

Why not poll people in the US where we know about him? What is with asking Europeans about an American President? That is absurd.

Actually in a major poll of experts in the US done not long ago Reagan ranked 15th best US President. That puts him at the very top of the middle third of the rankings.

Answer 4

"Polish admirers of Ronald Reagan say they will erect a statue of the late US president in Warsaw to thank him for helping to end communist rule."

Obviously this is the latest Polish joke.

Reagan was suffering from Alzheimers while running for his second term.

Answer 5

Not the greatest in my book, no where close.

A typical "American Idol" poll. Not based on science or statistics at all. Consider the method of polling, tilted clearly to a 'type' of person they wished to poll.

Reagan was charismatic, no argument there. As a leader, he was short-sighted, with 'soundbites' for foreign policy. Much of the middle east conditions we face today can be traced directly to his leadership.

Answer 6

I'm a big fan of Reagan, but that poll seems to be a little much! Besides the obvious choices of Lincoln and Washington, you'd probably have Jefferson, Madison, John Adams, Kennedry and FDR ahead of him.

As far as Bush is concerned, he's definitely in the bottom 10 along with Carter (maybe not as bad as Carter, but he's done a heck of a number of this country AND the Republican party). He's no Conservative.

Answer 7

NOt as bad as bush but pretty bad:

Only a short time into his administration, Federal air traffic controllers went on strike, violating a regulation prohibiting Government unions from striking.[49] Declaring the situation an emergency as described in the 1947 Taft Hartley Act, Reagan held a press conference in the White House Rose Garden, where he stated that if the air traffic controllers "do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated."[50] On August 5, 1981, Reagan fired 11,359 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored his order to return to work.

On October 27, 1986, President Reagan signed a drug enforcement bill into law, which granted $1.7 billion dollars to fight the crisis, and ensured a mandatory minimum penalty for drug offenses.[68] The Bill was criticized for promoting significant racial disparities in the prison population, because of the differences in sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine.[68]

In 1986, the Reagan Administration was found to have illegally sold arms to Iran to fund the anti-communist Contras in Nicaragua. The Iran-Contra Affair was the largest political scandal in the United States during the 1980s.[86] President Reagan professed ignorance of the plot's existence and quickly called for an Independent Counsel to investigate.

Answer 8

Seeing how he was the worst president in my life time, and NO ONE even comes close, I doubt he was a great American. Having said that, I guess Poland can do what they want. I don't see that as much of a recommendation of anything.

Answer 9

He's my number 1. He stood his ground and didn't blink,, he should be on Mt. Rushmore. I think the whole star wars ruse was masterful, who could ever beat that piece of work.

I wouldn't have Bush Jr. or Clinton in the top 10 either.

Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, Roosevelt, Ford,,, Ford,,, only kidding....

Answer 10

He is at the top of my list. But Im not sure I agree with any poll that rates Oprah in the top 1000 let alone top 10.

Answer 11

One of the greatest, yes.

I would have ranked Carter above Clinton and Andrew Johnson because both were impeached presidents, but the ranking is my opinion.

Johnson, however is ranked above Clinton, though. The difference being Johnson's crime was appointing a cabinet member Congress did not like. Clinton's impeachable offense was obstruction of justice, a real and actual felony. Both ran bad administrations and put the nation in harm's way.