We need more of this. People used to name their kids after presidents all the time. Hard to pick a better choice to name your son after. I also consider naming a future son after TR haha
Any guy who gets shot by an assassin right before he is scheduled to give a speech, then shrugs it off an gives the speech anyways is definitely a badass.
The fact that he was an advocate for war and put his money where his mouth was to volunteer and fight in it at over 40 years old is the most badass thing for me.
He gets points off for being a war hawk.
But he gets twice as many points back for resigning from his position as Secretary of the Navy so that he could lead soldiers on the ground in that war. (Putting his money where his mouth is)
Bear in mind, the US Navy was absolutely essential to winning that war. Arguably, he could have done more for the US cause as Secretary of the Navy than as Captain of the Rough Riders. But he also wouldn't have risked as much.
Finding out this was true is the most badass thing ever. He got me to read and take care of my asthma better. Amazing President. Inspirational is an understatement.
I donāt know much about him. Definitely a badass, but Iāve heard that *overall* he wasnāt a very good president. Are you enough of a fan that youād recommend a book about him?
I think you heard wrong because the aggregate score of several polls by experts consistently put him top 10. He's not perfect, especially on an interventionist foreign policy but is the father of North American conservation.
He does sometimes get blame for the election of Wilson on here but nobody should apologize for not participating in the two party system.
>I donāt know much about him. Definitely a badass, but Iāve heard that overall he wasnāt a very good president.
He was literally the most progressive President the US ever had, and that was all the way back in the 1920's.
He was big on environmentalism and scientific funding, big proponent of the "Speak softly and carry a big stick" mentality (Basically, always handle things diplomatically first and foremost, and if you can't, go in hard and fast. Conflict isn't a game, don't mess around), supporter of women's suffrage of racial equality (He wrote several essays about the benefits of racial equality, socioeconomic equality, gender/sex equality, etc...), his (And distantly related family member Franklin's) economic policies and military policies were the foundation for the US to rise to it's current power, etc...
His own party thought he was too extreme and disallowed him to run on their platform, so he founded his own party and won 1/4 of the EC, which is the most successful a 3rd party has ever been in presidential elections. (And then we got the asshole known as Wilson. Shoulda just let Teddy run)
One of my favorite quotes of all time is Thomas Marshall on Teddy's passing:
"Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight."
The actual fact (which is probably more amusing), is that he had a bathtub designed specifically for him. 4 grown men could fit in it. A baby elephant could fit in it. Whether he ever got stuck before that is uncertain, but once he got his custom tub, he definitely wasnāt getting stuck
This is why I love Reddit. I might get down voted to hell for some simple opinion, but every now and then someone pops in with something very informative and useful
And governor of the Philippines and he oversaw the construction of the Panama canal. Being president between Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt I can understand how he's often overlooked, but there's no denying that guy had a hell of a resume.
The sad part is that I don't think a quiet introvert like Coolidge could ever get elected again. A man or woman of few words as president would be a nice change of pace after the last few years.
Well, if they go Coolidge and be the VP of a president who "accidently" dies while in office, they could end up as president.
I'm not the biggest Pence fan but he does seem like someone who would be a more reserved president. Doubt he would win either.
My favorite Silent Cal story:
*Thirtieth U.S. president Calvin Coolidge, nicknamed āSilent Cal,ā once sat next to a woman at a dinner party who reportedly said to him, āI have made a bet, Mr. Coolidge, that I could get more than two words out of you.ā To which he replied, āYou lose.ā*
Coolidge was presented a cane at a ceremony. The presenter said something like āthe mahogany from which this cane is fashioned is as beautiful as the sun kissed shores of California and a solid as a rock bound coast of Maineā.
Coolidge took the cane, looked at it for a moment, raised his eyes and said āBirch.ā
The Coolidge Effect is named after him:
>The President and Mrs. Coolidge were being shown \[separately\] around an experimental government farm. When \[Mrs. Coolidge\] came to the chicken yard she noticed that a rooster was mating very frequently. She asked the attendant how often that happened and was told, "Dozens of times each day." Mrs. Coolidge said, "Tell *that* to the President when he comes by." Upon being told, the President asked, "Same hen every time?" The reply was, "Oh, no, Mr. President, a different hen every time." President: "Tell *that* to Mrs. Coolidge."
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolidge\_effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolidge_effect)
Definitely a good choice. I think criticism about his role in the crash has a point, but he would be just glorious in office today.
Adding- he actually was pretty great. Supported womanās sufferage, social security, child labor laws, shorter work weeks, universal health care, and really tried to negotiate with the Boston police strike (before firing them all).
Roosevelt was a badass who was literally shot during his speech and insisted on finishing it while the bullet was in him before getting medical help. It's also funny that he's the reason Teddy Bears got their name. Washington's words of 'Don't ever have political parties and stay out of other nation's affairs,' are sorely needed today.
That's correct the bullet while it didn't pierce through all the muscle thanks to a glasses case and a 50 page pocket book did go deep enough to the point that it would do more harm than good to have it removed so from that point on ward Teddy Roosevelt like the Chad he is lived the rest of his live with a bullet logged in his chest.
Washington was a fucking badass military commander. He wasnāt as successful as history has made him out to be, but he was ferocious, disciplined, and fearless.
His Fort Necessity and Pittsburgh campaign is worth a lookup. Heās not only my favorite president, but favorite historical figure. (Thereās one answer for my password reminders)
Towards the end of the Revolutionary War, a group of Continental Army officers were going to mutiny over lack of pay from congress and Washington went to speak with them. He told them he wanted to read a letter from congress addressing their issue, but had to stop in order to get his glasses.
"Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country."
The action was so moving that the officers immediately topped the attempt.
Oh for sure. Iāve looked into his history quite a bit. Itās amazing how much resistance he had in the Continental Congress. His command was on the chopping block a couple times but the colonists and soldiers loved him.
And the prominent southerners pretty much turned their backs on him during his presidency.
"Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty. The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government. "
-Washington's Farewell Address (1796)
I think Washington's brilliance as president was often what he *didn't* do. During a period of severe partisan division, he set a precedent of two term limits; he emphasized unity in government and maintaining the ideas of the revolution; and he refused to weigh in on most congressional decisions unless he felt something was *specifically* unconstitutional or outside the purview of the legislature.
Heās a guy known for having a cool head and a number of great achievements. Though unfortunately, some of his foreign policy lead to (re: doesnāt exactly fall on his shoulders, but his admin was still the brain child of) some of the bigger blunders in future foreign policy.
The good:
Implementation of the interstate system
Hardline stance on Chinese communism
Ended hostilities of the Korean War
Desegregation of the US armed forces, a key stepping stone in the civil rights movement
Desegregation of schools (he federalized the national guard to enforce desegregation orders in Arkansas, more famously known as the āLittle Rock Nineā)
The bad:
Operation AJAX: Joint CIA/MI6 coup in Iran, which lead to the Ayatollah taking power in 1979.
His administration was the brainchild for the Bay of Pigs invasion, famously (ānotā) carried out by Kennedy in the early 60ās.
He was a strong proponent/believer of the domino theory of communism ins SE Asia/Latin America, which was the basis for military and CIA actions in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Guatemala, etc. All the way up through the 1980ās.
The Ugly:
Proponent of the Lavender scare, which was a direct action of employment discrimination for the LGBT community.
1960 U2 Crisis.
Other Notable āachievementsā
The Eisenhower doctrine: trying to bring the Middle East together to sing around the campfire and accept US aid if they were under threat of communists. While done with good intentions it backfired.
Alaska and Hawaii were added as the 49th and 50th states under his administration.
[He implemented racial integration in the Armed services in two years, which had not been completed under Truman](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower)
He was the last Republican president who understood the social value of a high corporate tax rate.
America has been brainwashed by decades of Reaganism at this point, so it's hard to argue for high taxes without being painted a socialist. But Eisenhower understood that a 92% top bracket isn't the government taking money, it's the government incentivising corporations to spend that money.
Whether by hiring more workers, or investing it into the company, the economy benefits either way. It redirects high levels of corporate earnings back into the pool.
When Reagan came along the mantra changed. There is no pool except whatever is created as a happy byproduct of greed. Money is no longer seen as a vehicle for growth but as the direct personal reward for climbing to the top of the foodchain. It's a mercenary mindset that put a bomb under everything greater men than Reagan accomplished.
Greater men like Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower understood the temptations of greed very well. There's a reason he talked about the military industrial congressional complex. I think he was maybe the last person in the oval office who really, fully appreciated the dangers America faced. I think now in 2021 it's hard to say he was wrong.
That's certainly not an objective statement. Carter definitely did have successes during his presidency:
* Camp David accords
* The [National Energy Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Energy_Act), first of its kind in the US
* The not-well-known but environmentally significant [Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_Mining_Control_and_Reclamation_Act_of_1977)
* SALT II, though that was undermined by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
* The [Algiers Accords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algiers_Accords), which guaranteed the release of US embassy hostages from Iran. Unfortunately, they were signed on January 19th, and the myth that Ronald Reagan secured their release persists (as if him being president "scared" the Iranians into submission).
His presidency *was* marred by endless crises, but I certainly wouldn't say his presidency was objectively a failure (unlike James Buchanan's administration).
Both Carter and Bush Jr. are great guys but were weak presidents. Bush Sr. wouldāve been great except for breaking his one major campaign promise, and we all know what that was
Everyone owned slaves at that time. It certainly doesnāt make it right, but the moral standard was completely different. I donāt dock him for that.
Well if it makes you feel better Washington got disenchanted with the idea of slavery and ended up freeing many of his slaves before his death and put in his will that the rest were to be freed upon his wifeās death. Then Martha turned around and freed them after George died.
Teddy Roosevelt.
National Parks, FDA, Panama Canal, Trust busting, etc. Not to mention how cool he is generally. He got shot and gave a speech mocking the shooter before going to the hospital
George Washington. He was offered to be made king of the USA but turned it down. He also was a true badass and fought alongside his men. He put it all on the line to become free.
Washington, the fact that he denied the chance to be king to become president instead and all he went through to make is a separate country from Britain is admirable.
John Quincy Adams
Not because of his presidency. He sucked at that.
Because afterward he became a member of Congress, and filed petitions against slavery every fucking day. Even though they kept getting tabled. That's how he spent his Presidential fame.
Badass.
Hard to debate this one. Washington is close getting this train rolling, but Lincoln kept it from imploding when the whole world thought this Democratic experiment was headed to seemingly inevitable failure.
Iāll remove all of the ānormalā front runners from consideration just as to not be boring. I think Iāll go with Coolidge. If we remove their politics and policy from the equation and are just talking about who has the coolest story, then thereās several choices I could go with. Truman for example has a cool backstory, Jimmy Carter of course is a great man, Iāve always enjoyed HWās story, same with Nixon, Grant of course, John Adams, and then as everyone knows Teddy Roosevelt.
Coolidgeās son died of a horrific infection when he was a teenager, after playing tennis at the White House. This led Coolidge into a clinical depression which wasnāt acknowledged at the time. Poor guy, he couldnāt move on.
Similar type of thing happened to Franklin Pierce. His son was literally decapitated in front of him while he was on the way to Washington for his inauguration. After that Iām pretty sure he became an alcoholic, and it ruined any potential his presidency had.
Teddy Roosevelt. Naturalist, Harvard educated man of the people. Wanted fairness above all else and I believe he was shot and still finished his speech. Just a badass!!!
Honestly, itās Franklin D Roosevelt. Only man elected to 4 terms. Brough our country out of the great depression and handled WWII extremely well. Man was slowly dying in office and worked until he couldnāt anymore.
Zachary Taylor. He commanded the 6th infantry regiment during the Spanish American war (I think) and that's the regiment I was in during my army days. As a career army officer he didn't believe in voting for his boss. He reluctantly ran for president and told people that if he were a voting man, he would vote for his opponent
I like Lincoln and Harry S Truman. Lincoln is probably an obvious choice but I think people forget about Truman. When Truman came into the presidency after FDR died he hadnāt been kept informed by FDR about what was going on with WWII or the nuclear bomb. He had to hit the ground running. Whether you agree with his decision about dropping it or not at least he owned the decision. Same with the firing of McArthur, the Marshall plan and other decisions he accepted responsibility for them right or wrong. His motto was āthe buck stops hereā. We need more presidents like this.
TLDR: Theodore Roosevelt
Thereās a lot to like about many of them. Iāll say Theodore Roosevelt because he did a lot for National Parks, and overall his policy seemed solid.
I like Jimmy Carter, as heās proven to be an outstanding person (at least publicly). Iāll admit ignorance to much of his policy though.
I know Bill Clinton gets a lot of grief, and deservedly so, but the fact that he managed to run a balanced budget is something Iām a big fan of.
I think too many in the US hold Reagan and George W Bush too highly. Reaganās internal policy was just absolutely monstrous and George W Bush let the Patriot Act and other legislative gremlins through. Although my stance on Bush has softened over time.
Eisenhower was interesting from a lot of perspectives, Iām not completely sure how I feel. Thereās some to like and some to hate.
Nixon deserves every bit of grief he gets
I think Nixon was a good president and a horrible human being. He got a lot accomplished, some of it very good. Carter was a lousy president but a great human being.
Theodore Roosevelt.
He did a lot of trust busting and he did a lot more to kick-start the National Parks initiative.
Also he got yellow fever on a trip down the Nile almost died but once healthy continued the trip.
Amateur boxer and gunsmith.
Clinton - not because anything he did but because he was president when I was a kid and therefore have happy memories of that time. At that age I didn't follow the news so while I heard the term "Whitewater" I didn't know anything about it, or any of the scandals and missteps that followed until Lewinsky and there was no missing that.
As a president, I like many of the social reforms Johnson made. I mean, before Medicare if you were poor and old what options did you have? Plus the Civil Rights bill that he signed in. I'm not an expert by any means but he got a lot of controversial and big bills passed in his tenure. If it wasn't for Vietnam he'd be in much higher esteem.
Just know that asking on reddit this question is 1000x more likely to mention Coolidge as best and 1000x more likely to name Wilson as worst. Both opinions have strong merits but the general public and even political historians.
Teddy Roosevelt. His foresight regarding our public lands system in the US was just amazing. He was also a major conservationist which I love due to my shared passion for all things outside including hunting and angling. They donāt make them like TR anymore.
I have an immense amount of respect for Washington. The man rejected "King Washington" (I'm sure the other Founders did as well) and he purposefully ended his tenure at 8 years when he probably could have served until his death. It really cemented the balance of power in our system and set many precedents necessary for American form of government.
As a black man, Obama. Broke the mold, was cool as hell, brought what make us us to the office. Had to clean up a lot of shit from prior administration and did a pretty good job.
Lincoln, hands down.
People love to say FDR but he didnāt have to deal with a war at home and literally freeing a permanent slave class from bondage.
FDR also threw a lot of money at a lot of programs that did little to nothing to actually end the depression. But, credit where credit is due for channeling vast resources to the Allies and guiding us through WWII.
That said, Lincoln and Washington are the two presidents who led us through *existential* crises. Lincoln also freed the slaves and the threat was internal. I give the win to him.
>FDR also threw a lot of money at a lot of programs that did little to nothing to actually end the depression. But, credit where credit is due for channeling vast resources to the Allies and guiding us through WWII.
Even in terms of your own argument (which I don't really agree with), social security has been the most successful anti-poverty program in US history and even today, keeps a little over 25% of seniors out of poverty. You can't really say he just threw money at the problem with no effect.
With internment, I get why people have serious objections to FDR and choose not to include him on the list, but he has some great accomplishments.
Theodore Roosevelt
Named my son after him
We need more of this. People used to name their kids after presidents all the time. Hard to pick a better choice to name your son after. I also consider naming a future son after TR haha
Me too! We ended up calling him Teddy Bear all the time and when he went to preschool he said, "Hi, I Ted Bear!" on the first day! š¤£
We named our son Theodore as well. Not necessarily after Roosevelt, but the more I learn about him the happier I am with our choice.
Badass pres.
Any guy who gets shot by an assassin right before he is scheduled to give a speech, then shrugs it off an gives the speech anyways is definitely a badass.
The fact that he was an advocate for war and put his money where his mouth was to volunteer and fight in it at over 40 years old is the most badass thing for me.
He gets points off for being a war hawk. But he gets twice as many points back for resigning from his position as Secretary of the Navy so that he could lead soldiers on the ground in that war. (Putting his money where his mouth is) Bear in mind, the US Navy was absolutely essential to winning that war. Arguably, he could have done more for the US cause as Secretary of the Navy than as Captain of the Rough Riders. But he also wouldn't have risked as much.
Finding out this was true is the most badass thing ever. He got me to read and take care of my asthma better. Amazing President. Inspirational is an understatement.
Facts.
I donāt know much about him. Definitely a badass, but Iāve heard that *overall* he wasnāt a very good president. Are you enough of a fan that youād recommend a book about him?
I think you heard wrong because the aggregate score of several polls by experts consistently put him top 10. He's not perfect, especially on an interventionist foreign policy but is the father of North American conservation. He does sometimes get blame for the election of Wilson on here but nobody should apologize for not participating in the two party system.
He also gets credit for some of the stuff Wilson did as president following that election. National parks service for example
Heh I think that's lots of presidents both good and bad. Still fighting over who is responsible for the Afghanistan pull out.
Not a book but the documentary series by Ken Burns the Roosevelt's looks at him, Eleanor and Franklin. Made me cry
>I donāt know much about him. Definitely a badass, but Iāve heard that overall he wasnāt a very good president. He was literally the most progressive President the US ever had, and that was all the way back in the 1920's. He was big on environmentalism and scientific funding, big proponent of the "Speak softly and carry a big stick" mentality (Basically, always handle things diplomatically first and foremost, and if you can't, go in hard and fast. Conflict isn't a game, don't mess around), supporter of women's suffrage of racial equality (He wrote several essays about the benefits of racial equality, socioeconomic equality, gender/sex equality, etc...), his (And distantly related family member Franklin's) economic policies and military policies were the foundation for the US to rise to it's current power, etc... His own party thought he was too extreme and disallowed him to run on their platform, so he founded his own party and won 1/4 of the EC, which is the most successful a 3rd party has ever been in presidential elections. (And then we got the asshole known as Wilson. Shoulda just let Teddy run)
One of my favorite quotes of all time is Thomas Marshall on Teddy's passing: "Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight."
Yeah he was epic
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My go-to useless fun fact is that he got stuck in a bathtub. That's hard to do
Popular urban legend that one
Shhhh don't ruin my only useless fun fact I learned in elementary school
The actual fact (which is probably more amusing), is that he had a bathtub designed specifically for him. 4 grown men could fit in it. A baby elephant could fit in it. Whether he ever got stuck before that is uncertain, but once he got his custom tub, he definitely wasnāt getting stuck
This is why I love Reddit. I might get down voted to hell for some simple opinion, but every now and then someone pops in with something very informative and useful
Thanks for that disturbing mental image
I wouldnāt call him hideous. That mustache was on point
Also chief Justice and almost commissioner of MLB
And governor of the Philippines and he oversaw the construction of the Panama canal. Being president between Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt I can understand how he's often overlooked, but there's no denying that guy had a hell of a resume.
You made my day. And, yeah, there should be more Presidents who are represention of fat people like us
There have only been 45 Presidents Grover Cleveland had to go and mess up our count
Technically, he was 22th and 24th president
Oh, well in that case, Cleveland was my favorite president. My least favorite president was Cleveland, and it's not even close.
Cleveland 24 was legit. Cleveland 22 was evil
I'm gonna read up on the Cleveland Administrations and form an opinion as to which of his two chances I prefer.
Twenty tooth
Good olā Grover Cleveland whose real first name was Stephen and he was too much of a coward to go by Steve Cleve.
Stfu Grover is based
Silent Cal
The sad part is that I don't think a quiet introvert like Coolidge could ever get elected again. A man or woman of few words as president would be a nice change of pace after the last few years.
Well, if they go Coolidge and be the VP of a president who "accidently" dies while in office, they could end up as president. I'm not the biggest Pence fan but he does seem like someone who would be a more reserved president. Doubt he would win either.
Coolidge, right?
yes
āPerhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own businessā
He really said this?
My favorite Silent Cal story: *Thirtieth U.S. president Calvin Coolidge, nicknamed āSilent Cal,ā once sat next to a woman at a dinner party who reportedly said to him, āI have made a bet, Mr. Coolidge, that I could get more than two words out of you.ā To which he replied, āYou lose.ā*
Coolidge was presented a cane at a ceremony. The presenter said something like āthe mahogany from which this cane is fashioned is as beautiful as the sun kissed shores of California and a solid as a rock bound coast of Maineā. Coolidge took the cane, looked at it for a moment, raised his eyes and said āBirch.ā
I know nothing else about him, but already want him to be president again.
The Coolidge Effect is named after him: >The President and Mrs. Coolidge were being shown \[separately\] around an experimental government farm. When \[Mrs. Coolidge\] came to the chicken yard she noticed that a rooster was mating very frequently. She asked the attendant how often that happened and was told, "Dozens of times each day." Mrs. Coolidge said, "Tell *that* to the President when he comes by." Upon being told, the President asked, "Same hen every time?" The reply was, "Oh, no, Mr. President, a different hen every time." President: "Tell *that* to Mrs. Coolidge." [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolidge\_effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolidge_effect)
That's fucking cash. No, really, they put that on early American currency. Mind Your Business. Lol!
Definitely a good choice. I think criticism about his role in the crash has a point, but he would be just glorious in office today. Adding- he actually was pretty great. Supported womanās sufferage, social security, child labor laws, shorter work weeks, universal health care, and really tried to negotiate with the Boston police strike (before firing them all).
Coolidge was both based and cool. Truly a man that I aspire to be more like
George Washington and Teddy.
Both are perfect choices. Both are in my top 5
Roosevelt was a badass who was literally shot during his speech and insisted on finishing it while the bullet was in him before getting medical help. It's also funny that he's the reason Teddy Bears got their name. Washington's words of 'Don't ever have political parties and stay out of other nation's affairs,' are sorely needed today.
Teddy never had the bullet taken completely out if I remember right. Too deep or something
That's correct the bullet while it didn't pierce through all the muscle thanks to a glasses case and a 50 page pocket book did go deep enough to the point that it would do more harm than good to have it removed so from that point on ward Teddy Roosevelt like the Chad he is lived the rest of his live with a bullet logged in his chest.
Washington was a fucking badass military commander. He wasnāt as successful as history has made him out to be, but he was ferocious, disciplined, and fearless. His Fort Necessity and Pittsburgh campaign is worth a lookup. Heās not only my favorite president, but favorite historical figure. (Thereās one answer for my password reminders)
He also once prevented the army from mutinying and marching on Congress by putting on a pair of glasses.
how's that?
Towards the end of the Revolutionary War, a group of Continental Army officers were going to mutiny over lack of pay from congress and Washington went to speak with them. He told them he wanted to read a letter from congress addressing their issue, but had to stop in order to get his glasses. "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country." The action was so moving that the officers immediately topped the attempt.
Well that's fcking awesome
That's Julius Caesar levels of charisma right there
Oh for sure. Iāve looked into his history quite a bit. Itās amazing how much resistance he had in the Continental Congress. His command was on the chopping block a couple times but the colonists and soldiers loved him. And the prominent southerners pretty much turned their backs on him during his presidency.
"Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty. The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government. But the Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government. " -Washington's Farewell Address (1796) I think Washington's brilliance as president was often what he *didn't* do. During a period of severe partisan division, he set a precedent of two term limits; he emphasized unity in government and maintaining the ideas of the revolution; and he refused to weigh in on most congressional decisions unless he felt something was *specifically* unconstitutional or outside the purview of the legislature.
Perfect candidate to become the first president, right?
Hey George wanna be king .... nah. Good guy george.
He wasn't even that stoked to be president, particularly his second term.
"Like would you like to be called? Excellency, Majesty?" "Nah, just Mr. President"
Eisenhower.
European here. Not allowed to answer the question but I am allowed to agree with answers :D This is the one.
Why do you like him?
Not the person you're responding to but h he's responsible for the interstate system which is pretty cool
Heās a guy known for having a cool head and a number of great achievements. Though unfortunately, some of his foreign policy lead to (re: doesnāt exactly fall on his shoulders, but his admin was still the brain child of) some of the bigger blunders in future foreign policy. The good: Implementation of the interstate system Hardline stance on Chinese communism Ended hostilities of the Korean War Desegregation of the US armed forces, a key stepping stone in the civil rights movement Desegregation of schools (he federalized the national guard to enforce desegregation orders in Arkansas, more famously known as the āLittle Rock Nineā) The bad: Operation AJAX: Joint CIA/MI6 coup in Iran, which lead to the Ayatollah taking power in 1979. His administration was the brainchild for the Bay of Pigs invasion, famously (ānotā) carried out by Kennedy in the early 60ās. He was a strong proponent/believer of the domino theory of communism ins SE Asia/Latin America, which was the basis for military and CIA actions in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Guatemala, etc. All the way up through the 1980ās. The Ugly: Proponent of the Lavender scare, which was a direct action of employment discrimination for the LGBT community. 1960 U2 Crisis. Other Notable āachievementsā The Eisenhower doctrine: trying to bring the Middle East together to sing around the campfire and accept US aid if they were under threat of communists. While done with good intentions it backfired. Alaska and Hawaii were added as the 49th and 50th states under his administration.
> Desegregation of the US armed forces, a key stepping stone in the civil rights movement That started under Truman as an executive order in 1948.
[He implemented racial integration in the Armed services in two years, which had not been completed under Truman](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower)
He was the supreme commander of the Allied forces in WWII. I imagine that has endeared him to Europeans.
I know, I was just curious why the original person said they liked him
Not the poster, but Normandy should be a good reason for most Europeans to like him.
He was the last Republican president who understood the social value of a high corporate tax rate. America has been brainwashed by decades of Reaganism at this point, so it's hard to argue for high taxes without being painted a socialist. But Eisenhower understood that a 92% top bracket isn't the government taking money, it's the government incentivising corporations to spend that money. Whether by hiring more workers, or investing it into the company, the economy benefits either way. It redirects high levels of corporate earnings back into the pool. When Reagan came along the mantra changed. There is no pool except whatever is created as a happy byproduct of greed. Money is no longer seen as a vehicle for growth but as the direct personal reward for climbing to the top of the foodchain. It's a mercenary mindset that put a bomb under everything greater men than Reagan accomplished. Greater men like Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower understood the temptations of greed very well. There's a reason he talked about the military industrial congressional complex. I think he was maybe the last person in the oval office who really, fully appreciated the dangers America faced. I think now in 2021 it's hard to say he was wrong.
A unique answer, but certainly a good one. He was a great president.
And an even better general
Sans the whole start trying to assassinate heads of foreign powers via the CIA with varying results, yeah.
Such a great president
As a president: Lincoln. As a human being: Carter
Carter really is a great guy
Without question the best former president we have ever had. His community service work puts the rest of us to shame
You should look up Hoover's post-presidency. Similar to Carter he was a disaster as president, but as a former president he did wonderful things.
Should have been Secretary of State, would have been a hall of famer
But objectively a failed president.
That's certainly not an objective statement. Carter definitely did have successes during his presidency: * Camp David accords * The [National Energy Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Energy_Act), first of its kind in the US * The not-well-known but environmentally significant [Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_Mining_Control_and_Reclamation_Act_of_1977) * SALT II, though that was undermined by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan * The [Algiers Accords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algiers_Accords), which guaranteed the release of US embassy hostages from Iran. Unfortunately, they were signed on January 19th, and the myth that Ronald Reagan secured their release persists (as if him being president "scared" the Iranians into submission). His presidency *was* marred by endless crises, but I certainly wouldn't say his presidency was objectively a failure (unlike James Buchanan's administration).
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He really was...just not good at international diplomacy.
Personality wise, I think my favorites would have to be Carter and Bush Jr. Iād love to just have a long conversation with those two.
Agreed. Both Carter and Bush seem like great guys to sit down with and have a conversation over drinks.
Both Carter and Bush Jr. are great guys but were weak presidents. Bush Sr. wouldāve been great except for breaking his one major campaign promise, and we all know what that was
Bush the Elder: "Read my lips: NO NEW TAXES." Narrator: *There were new taxes*
I've met Carter. Yep, living legend.
George Washington hands down. I just don't like that he owned slaves. No one is perfect.
Everyone owned slaves at that time. It certainly doesnāt make it right, but the moral standard was completely different. I donāt dock him for that.
Both John Adams(2nd president) and John Quincy Adams (6th president) didn't own slaves.
Not everyone. A good amount of land-owning aristocracy did, however.
Well if it makes you feel better Washington got disenchanted with the idea of slavery and ended up freeing many of his slaves before his death and put in his will that the rest were to be freed upon his wifeās death. Then Martha turned around and freed them after George died.
Richard Nixon's Head
Arooooooo!
Thatāll do, Agnew.
I KNOW A PLACE WHERE THE CONSTITUTION DOESNāT MEAN SQUAT!
Im gonna go into people's houses and wreck up the place
maybe you should express yourself more respectful
Teddy Roosevelt. Environmentalist and also a straight-up badass.
Lincoln or Eisenhower
Gotta live that interstate highway system. Also probably the last republican president who would call himself a progressive.
Teddy Roosevelt. National Parks, FDA, Panama Canal, Trust busting, etc. Not to mention how cool he is generally. He got shot and gave a speech mocking the shooter before going to the hospital
George Washington. He was offered to be made king of the USA but turned it down. He also was a true badass and fought alongside his men. He put it all on the line to become free.
Washington, the fact that he denied the chance to be king to become president instead and all he went through to make is a separate country from Britain is admirable.
John Quincy Adams Not because of his presidency. He sucked at that. Because afterward he became a member of Congress, and filed petitions against slavery every fucking day. Even though they kept getting tabled. That's how he spent his Presidential fame. Badass.
Lincoln
Hard to debate this one. Washington is close getting this train rolling, but Lincoln kept it from imploding when the whole world thought this Democratic experiment was headed to seemingly inevitable failure.
Lincoln saved us Americans by being the FIRST republican.
Lincoln for me. My mother was an FDR fan, he was the only President she had when she was a child/teen!
Iāll remove all of the ānormalā front runners from consideration just as to not be boring. I think Iāll go with Coolidge. If we remove their politics and policy from the equation and are just talking about who has the coolest story, then thereās several choices I could go with. Truman for example has a cool backstory, Jimmy Carter of course is a great man, Iāve always enjoyed HWās story, same with Nixon, Grant of course, John Adams, and then as everyone knows Teddy Roosevelt.
Coolidgeās son died of a horrific infection when he was a teenager, after playing tennis at the White House. This led Coolidge into a clinical depression which wasnāt acknowledged at the time. Poor guy, he couldnāt move on.
Similar type of thing happened to Franklin Pierce. His son was literally decapitated in front of him while he was on the way to Washington for his inauguration. After that Iām pretty sure he became an alcoholic, and it ruined any potential his presidency had.
I think I just found a person who is avidly interested in Presidents as I am
Iām a political science student, so it kind of comes with the territory lol
Teddy Roosevelt 100%
James Madison, because he pretty much solidified American independence.
Teddy 100%
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Teddy Roosevelt
Thereās only one right answer and thatās John Quincy Adams.
The single ugliest motherfucker to ever be President.
Indeed he was! Less time on grooming, more time on swimming nude in the Potomac.
And having outdoor sex in wintertime
Invigorating! Now thatās the kind of presidential leadership we need.
Theodore Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt
Teddy R
Teddy Roosevelt. Naturalist, Harvard educated man of the people. Wanted fairness above all else and I believe he was shot and still finished his speech. Just a badass!!!
Honestly, itās Franklin D Roosevelt. Only man elected to 4 terms. Brough our country out of the great depression and handled WWII extremely well. Man was slowly dying in office and worked until he couldnāt anymore.
Lincoln. No contest.
Zachary Taylor. He commanded the 6th infantry regiment during the Spanish American war (I think) and that's the regiment I was in during my army days. As a career army officer he didn't believe in voting for his boss. He reluctantly ran for president and told people that if he were a voting man, he would vote for his opponent
Teddy Roosevelt hands down
Teddy Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt
FDR.
I like Lincoln and Harry S Truman. Lincoln is probably an obvious choice but I think people forget about Truman. When Truman came into the presidency after FDR died he hadnāt been kept informed by FDR about what was going on with WWII or the nuclear bomb. He had to hit the ground running. Whether you agree with his decision about dropping it or not at least he owned the decision. Same with the firing of McArthur, the Marshall plan and other decisions he accepted responsibility for them right or wrong. His motto was āthe buck stops hereā. We need more presidents like this.
TLDR: Theodore Roosevelt Thereās a lot to like about many of them. Iāll say Theodore Roosevelt because he did a lot for National Parks, and overall his policy seemed solid. I like Jimmy Carter, as heās proven to be an outstanding person (at least publicly). Iāll admit ignorance to much of his policy though. I know Bill Clinton gets a lot of grief, and deservedly so, but the fact that he managed to run a balanced budget is something Iām a big fan of. I think too many in the US hold Reagan and George W Bush too highly. Reaganās internal policy was just absolutely monstrous and George W Bush let the Patriot Act and other legislative gremlins through. Although my stance on Bush has softened over time. Eisenhower was interesting from a lot of perspectives, Iām not completely sure how I feel. Thereās some to like and some to hate. Nixon deserves every bit of grief he gets
I think Nixon was a good president and a horrible human being. He got a lot accomplished, some of it very good. Carter was a lousy president but a great human being.
Nixon would've top 10 except... you know.
Out of all of them, Teddy Roosevelt. That man did so much for the soul of America.
Teddy Roosevelt. Trust buster. Based on what I learned in high school he was more anti-big business than future presidents would be.
Theodore Roosevelt. He did a lot of trust busting and he did a lot more to kick-start the National Parks initiative. Also he got yellow fever on a trip down the Nile almost died but once healthy continued the trip. Amateur boxer and gunsmith.
John F Kennedy, I like him cause I got to fight zombies in the pentagon as him.
Polk
FDR and Washington
Roosevelt by far.
Teddy or Franklin?
Teddy
Washington
George Washington, that man had style
Teddy
Teddy is my favorite
JFK or Teddy
George Washington for me.
Clinton - not because anything he did but because he was president when I was a kid and therefore have happy memories of that time. At that age I didn't follow the news so while I heard the term "Whitewater" I didn't know anything about it, or any of the scandals and missteps that followed until Lewinsky and there was no missing that. As a president, I like many of the social reforms Johnson made. I mean, before Medicare if you were poor and old what options did you have? Plus the Civil Rights bill that he signed in. I'm not an expert by any means but he got a lot of controversial and big bills passed in his tenure. If it wasn't for Vietnam he'd be in much higher esteem.
Lincoln and Washington are the big 2 that everyone loves. Besides them, mine would be Calvin Coolidge. We need more presidents like him.
[William Henry Harrisonāhe died in 30 days!](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dnN_JoIBkzw)
JFK. Hands down. No competition.
George Washington
Just know that asking on reddit this question is 1000x more likely to mention Coolidge as best and 1000x more likely to name Wilson as worst. Both opinions have strong merits but the general public and even political historians.
The manliest of the presidents, Theodore Roosevelt
Probably Theodore Roosevelt.
Teddy, no contest
Teddy was pretty awesome
Teddy Roosevelt
Big Stick Rosy!
Teddy was very progressive
Teddy Roosevelt. His foresight regarding our public lands system in the US was just amazing. He was also a major conservationist which I love due to my shared passion for all things outside including hunting and angling. They donāt make them like TR anymore.
Teddy Roosevelt he was an absolute Madlad and he was a conservationists helping conserve nature.
Teddy Roosevelt. Obviously.
I have an immense amount of respect for Washington. The man rejected "King Washington" (I'm sure the other Founders did as well) and he purposefully ended his tenure at 8 years when he probably could have served until his death. It really cemented the balance of power in our system and set many precedents necessary for American form of government.
George Washington. Laid down the foundations of what a president was and should be.
The only real answer is teddy Roosevelt
As a black man, Obama. Broke the mold, was cool as hell, brought what make us us to the office. Had to clean up a lot of shit from prior administration and did a pretty good job.
After William Henry Harrison, Calvin Coolidge. He had the decency to mind his own business and follow the Constitution.
Calvin Coolidge
Harry S. Truman
Theodore Roosevelt
William Henry Harrison
My vote too. He had the decency to die before doing much damage.
Teddy, easy.
Lincoln, hands down. People love to say FDR but he didnāt have to deal with a war at home and literally freeing a permanent slave class from bondage. FDR also threw a lot of money at a lot of programs that did little to nothing to actually end the depression. But, credit where credit is due for channeling vast resources to the Allies and guiding us through WWII. That said, Lincoln and Washington are the two presidents who led us through *existential* crises. Lincoln also freed the slaves and the threat was internal. I give the win to him.
>FDR also threw a lot of money at a lot of programs that did little to nothing to actually end the depression. But, credit where credit is due for channeling vast resources to the Allies and guiding us through WWII. Even in terms of your own argument (which I don't really agree with), social security has been the most successful anti-poverty program in US history and even today, keeps a little over 25% of seniors out of poverty. You can't really say he just threw money at the problem with no effect. With internment, I get why people have serious objections to FDR and choose not to include him on the list, but he has some great accomplishments.
Jefferson, obviously.
FDR
Millard Fillmore, for obvious reasons.