Can you honestly judge the entirety of a former President's term(s) in office...?

Question

if you weren't alive or aware of politics at the time?

Just as an example... I feel I could never judge Jimmy Carter's Presidency honestly since I was born during his term in office.

People on here talk about Franklin Pierce, for instance, as being the worst president ever. How can you justify that, if you didn't live through his Presidency? Do you have ancestors who were alive then, who wrote in their diaries about what it felt like to live under that administration? Or do you go by the teeny-tiny amount of info that's written in the history books, as your basis of proof?

Please give your answer some genuine thought before posting it. I'm curious as to how each of you feel about this.

Answer 1

I served under seven Presidents. From Dwight David Eisenhower to Ronald Wilson Reagan. So, whatever my view of any or all of the seven comes from a "been there and done that" perspective.
If one characterizes a President as the worse President, that belief is based on what the person judging wants from a President. And the expectations of performance in that office is definitely colored by a lineage stretching back to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was the original "Federal Wizard King" who brought the office of President onto the front pages of newspapers, never to retreat into the inner pages ever again.
My view of a President is based on how well that individual carries out the duties of the office prescribed in Article Two of the U.S. Constitution. But, unlike nearly 80% of my fellow adults in this country, I've read that document.

Answer 2

While book knowledge is no substitute for the experience of "having been there", it is possible to make a valid and accurate assessment base on the historical facts.

In the case of Carter, when he was the president and when he ran against Reagan, I was solidly Democrat. However, as the Reagan terms progressed, and I matured and learned what our country was/is about, I began to see the Carter administration as the 2nd worst in the 20th century (I actually saw it as the worst until 1993).

I was able to look back at the facts and, together with my recollection of the events as they happened, reformulate my original impressions of the time under Carter.

However, it would be entirely possible for one, such as yourself, to look at the facts of what occurred during his term and make a valid assessment, even without the benefit of having lived through it.

Answer 3

Honestly judging a former president is normally done after the president has been out of office for sometime.
Most of the time until they have been dead for years.

Jimmy has violated the code of ex-presidents by talking about a sitting president.
When he did that it does open himself to all the questioning in the world.

In short Jimmy ask for it.

Answer 4

would I remind of the disappointing unemployment share Bush left in the back of? a third time period might want to likely be equivalent to a 2d time period with Obama. although, bill Clinton, had he no longer been impeached (fired in politcal words), might want to've led this usa somewhat more suitable ideal than both the aforementioned presidents. different words, no hairy, besides as Obama-mama, do no longer deserve yet another probability.

Answer 5

Experiencing the sundries of day-to-day life in an historical time period would not change the significance of leaders from said time period.

So the answer is yes, you can judge past president's performances.

Answer 6

You can discuss the presidency in terms of policy, etc. and thus make statements. However, the problem I see with a lot of people on this site making such blanket statements is that many people lack the real research needed to make such blanket statements.

Answer 7

I think it would be easier if you were given facts, to review history and make a conclusion. If you were alive during it, there will be things that may influence your perception of the issue.

Answer 8

that's why there are history books ,

those who don't learn from history are destined to repeat it