The Greatest U. S. Presidents of All Time?

[Anonymous]

The Greatest U. S. Presidents of All Time?

Abraham Lincoln

George Washington

Barack Obama

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Thomas Jefferson

Harry Truman

Teddy Roosevelt

[nightdrot]

Unquestionably Abraham Lincoln. While the other Presidents on the list had defining accomplishments and are of undoubted historical importance, none was as decisive and significant as Lincoln, who not only saved the Union in its darkest hour, he defined its very nature.

Indeed, some years back a group of historians rated Lincoln and Churchill not just as great national leaders, but as the greatest leaders in all Western civilization. They earned the accolade - to be sure an accolade not without controversy - because they recurred to very wellsprings of Western civilization to define their statecraft and preserve their societies.

To some degree, this is an observation with a speculative cast. We can only imagine how the Western world would have looked had the United States not survived its civil war. (Ditto had Britain not stood alone and survived in 1940-41.) However, even in a contemporaneous context, Lincoln stands out.

At the time Lincoln became President, it was not just that the country was divided on the question of slavery - with all of its implications for how man viewed his fellow man. The country was, significantly, divided over its very nature. The question of whether or not it was single national community, or instead a confederation of separate and distinct communities, each with their own identity and, in extremis, sovereignty.

Lincoln answered the question not just through military victory - which by itself would not have been enduring - but by summoning the nation to the philosophical essentials of its birth. He defined the nation by common attachment to a specific creed - "a nation dedicated to a proposition" - and in the fullness of time defined the nation.

No President - not even Washington nor Jefferson - answered the question of what the United States was, and thus what it is now, as permanently and definitively. By summoning "the mystic chords of memory," i. e. to a keener sense of its animating principles, Lincoln turned the country into a nation. Something much more essential and elemental and thus enduring.

Not perfectly or completely to be sure. There is no perfection in this mortal veil of tears. However, it is undeniable that had their been no Lincoln, there would have been no America, and had there been no America, the history of Western civilization going forward - with all of its promise of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law - would have looked very different and likely would have taken a far darker turn.

[ShortCircuit]

If you wanted more nuanced opinions based on specific policies that impact our every day lives, you should've constrained it to something like "Best president in the last century?" or "Best out of the last 20 presidents?".

Since you didn't, I'm just going to cop out (like most others will) and go with Washington because the United States would likely still be a British colony if it weren't for him, followed by each president involved in the conception of the Constitution, followed by Lincoln.

[Anonymous]

Donald Trump

[nightdrot]

Unquestionably Abraham Lincoln. While the other Presidents on the list had defining accomplishments and are of undoubted historical importance, none was as decisive and significant as Lincoln, who not only saved the Union in its darkest hour, he defined its very nature.

Indeed, some years back a group of historians rated Lincoln and Churchill not just as great national leaders, but as the greatest leaders in all Western civilization. They earned the accolade - to be sure an accolade not without controversy - because they recurred to very wellsprings of Western civilization to define their statecraft and preserve their societies.

To some degree, this is an observation with a speculative cast. We can only imagine how the Western world would have looked had the United States not survived its civil war. (Ditto had Britain not stood alone and survived in 1940-41.) However, even in a contemporaneous context, Lincoln stands out.

At the time Lincoln became President, it was not just that the country was divided on the question of slavery - with all of its implications for how man viewed his fellow man. The country was, significantly, divided over its very nature. The question of whether or not it was single national community, or instead a confederation of separate and distinct communities, each with their own identity and, in extremis, sovereignty.

Lincoln answered the question not just through military victory - which by itself would not have been enduring - but by summoning the nation to the philosophical essentials of its birth. He defined the nation by common attachment to a specific creed - "a nation dedicated to a proposition" - and in the fullness of time defined the nation.

No President - not even Washington nor Jefferson - answered the question of what the United States was, and thus what it is now, as permanently and definitively. By summoning "the mystic chords of memory," i. e. to a keener sense of its animating principles, Lincoln turned the country into a nation. Something much more essential and elemental and thus enduring.

Not perfectly or completely to be sure. There is no perfection in this mortal veil of tears. However, it is undeniable that had their been no Lincoln, there would have been no America, and had there been no America, the history of Western civilization going forward - with all of its promise of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law - would have looked very different and likely would have taken a far darker turn.

[OlderAndWiser]

Obama better than Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln? What a joke!

[DanoMR98]

Washington, Jefferson, Adams, etc were people ideologically miles away from most modern Americans.

We believe in democracy, we believe in equality, we believe in community, we believe in liberation, and human empowerment.

The founding fathers? While they make great symbols and mythos for the American Civic Religion, they did not see the world as we see it today. They were only revolutionaries in comparison to monarchism. They were full throated supporters of aristocracy, and rule by the few. They didn't give a shit about "rights" or any of that stuff, and when working class people tried to employ their American freedoms back in those times, it wasn't so easy. They were the original believers of sham democracy, new world aristocracy, and they wanted very clearly to preserve damn near every sort of hierarchy in society, cultural or otherwise.

[OlderAndWiser]

@DanoMR98 If they did not believe in the rights of the people, we would not have a Constitution that LIMITS the power of the federal government, and we would not have a bill of rights. Your sense of history is devoid of perspective.

[DanoMR98]

The founding fathers thought people were too stupid to know what's best for them, so they put in mechanisms to our democratic process to obstruct certain peoples from voting. It took constitutional amendments, Baker v Carr, etc, Several measures throughout our history to make our democracy as fair as it is now, and it's frankly still lacking -- in some ways that may never, ever be fixed.

Funny how in my own home state of Nebraska, we voted 41% for Obama, yet he only got 1 of our 5 electoral votes. This was not a mistake. This is a result of a system that was designed to aid particular populations and agendas. While a huge percentage of us live in the Omaha and Lincoln metros, our apportionment gives favor to rural people. The people who founded this state on an undemocratic principle, that my vote as an Omahan should be worth less than someone in a small town or hamlet. I don't not understand why. I understand the American tradition of balancing population with geography, balancing rural vs urban, and apportioning representation by propertarian standards. I know the why, and the how -- and I disagree with it still. When Earl Warren rightly said "Legislators represent people, not trees or acres. Legislators are elected by voters, not farms or cities or economic interests." in his opinion on Reynolds v Sims, he was saying something that these cherished founding fathers literally did not believe.

Did John Adams care about the BoR when he made the alien and sedition act? I mean, it doesn't seem like it took long before the ideas of the bill of rights went right out the window.

[madhatters4]

in my opinion it is FDR. who knows where we'd be without him navigating us through the great depression and WWII

[TadCurious]

George Washington was our greatest and best president. The American experiment was very fragile at the start. Washington was held in such high regard and with such reverence that there were those who would have gladly made him a king. But he had too much integrity for that and knew first hand the sacrifices that had been made to create something new after the tyranny of George III. Washington served two full terms and made that first, crucial handoff of power to a new president --- John Adams --- in a peaceful and orderly fashion. That fact, which we take for granted today, was something very unique back then. It could have all fallen apart in those early years after independence had been won were it not for a man like George Washington to serve as the first president under the new Constitution.

[BlackSunAeon8]

Well said and he wasn’t corrupt like most other American presidents.

[GothAncap]

No he wasn't. He introduced a huge tax on whiskey and was a tyrant himself

[BlackSunAeon8]

That’s your only reason why he was a tyrant?

[BlackSunAeon8]

A lot of people were against alcohol back then.

[GothAncap]

I don't care how many were against alcohol. People have a right to put whatever they want in their own bodies and taxation is theft because it's the forceful taking of people's money. It's theft no matter how it's spent.

His whiskey tax led to the whiskey rebellion, so yes he was a tyrant. One slave master may be nicer than another, but they all deserve scorn and don't deserve praise

[BlackSunAeon8]

One bad decision doesn’t make him a tyrant.

[GothAncap]

@BlackSunAeon8 claiming the right to forcibly rule people DOES make someone a tyrant. You may not want to believe it because school (indoctrination camp ( teaches you otherwise, but that doesn't change the truth.

If being a slave master and killing people for resisting is "one bad decision", then yes it makes him a tyrant

[BlackSunAeon8]

You’re not very reasonable.

[GothAncap]

@BlackSunAeon8 that's all you've got? You probably know I'm right but are too uncomfortable to admit it, but hopefully you admit it to yourself. We're not free

[BlackSunAeon8]

No one is perfect so you can’t label someone a tyrant for one bad decision.

[DanoMR98]

"No Trump, I guess I'll pick Teddy"

To all the people who are disappointed to not see the reactionary here, so you opt for the progressive, why?

Teddy supported breaking up trusts, unionized labor, conservationism, regulation, etc. This is all stuff Trump doesn't support and wouldn't have if he ran back in 1912. Teddy left the Republican Party, which was a progressive party back then, to start an even more progressive party. Shit, you guys would've called Teddy a far-leftist if you were alive in his time.

[Mexicoman101]

Theodore Roosevelt was to the left of Obama in his ambitions to bust trusts and monopolies. Obama was almost entirely a disappointment and I'm ashamed to have volunteered for him. Even Lincoln, who I don't believe was virtuous in his intent when he banned slavery, was more of a leader than anyone in my lifetime.

I admit Obama might be the best since I've been born, but that's really not saying much.

[Rick912]

Obama almost destroyed the USA. He may have started something in the USA that will end up destroying it. USA is NOT united any longer. We are the Divided States of America.

[Asker]

Obama is a great guy. Great leader. We are grateful. We miss him.

[Nachowedgie]

You clearly didn't read what he wrote then

[reptocarl]

I don’t miss him at all. Good riddance

[just_harry]

FOR saved the US from collapse after the great depression and gave america the new deal and the social saftey net. Although he was great on economics, his social policies were horrendous. Although I'm willing to overlook this (it was the 30s after all).

[RegularTK421]

Out of that list, I would Reagan. I would put Eisenhower and Truman up there as well. Kennedy was a good president too, but was killed too soon. Obama was terrible, bombing countries without a declaration of war, adding more debt than George W, and outright being an incompetent traitor to our country.

[RegularTK421]

I would pick*

[Deukalion]

I am not American, but i can say that the success of Trump to make peace with N. Korea plus they destroy their nukes and taking USA troops from middle east make him good president and not war friendly like Obama, Bush, Clinton. i can't speak about others older ones. because i don't know them what they really did.

[Clo917]

George Washington. There have been a few other good ones, but everything has kinda gone downhill since then in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Abraham! He freed the slaves. :)))) there should be no such thing ever... however with the clown up in office right now, it seems like we’re eorkijg backwards.. trump 🤡 and his trumpsturds 🤢

[Asker]

Barack Obama?

[Opinion Owner]

What about hm?

I chose Abraham Lincoln.. and I stayed why. 👀

[LongShlongSilvr]

Lincoln was a bad ass.

[AuroraRoseat]

He did sign the Emancipation Proclamation but did you know that if he could have reunited the South with the North without it, he wouldn't have done it? Does that change your perception in anyway?

Also, Lyndon B. Johnson was an avid racist and modern day Democrat but he signed the Civil Rights Act. What I'm trying to say is that some people don't do things out of the goodness of their hearts.

[LongShlongSilvr]

@AuroraRoseat Johnson is probably behind JFK'S assassination. And your comment on Lincoln is theoretical bullshit.

[AuroraRoseat]

You've already proven your ignorance so I would take anything that you say with a grain of salt. I was going to post links proving what I said but you don't seem to face facts unless if they agree with you. You're a good loyal soldier to Trump, I bet.

I don't feel like wasting any more time because I feel like I'm getting dumber by the second. :)

[LongShlongSilvr]

@AuroraRoseat Ok. Sure. You go with your credible sources. Teen Vogue. Really? You're too dumb to be debating something you know nothing about.

[HelpingMcHelpington]

First of all, Obama doesn't belong anywhere near this list. But for me it's a toss up between Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Hmm. Even though my favorite is Teddy, I gotta go with Good ol' Honest Abe.

[Miristheiss]

I've read several biographies about him and George Washington has always been mine.

[mike5150]

This is a joke to even consider obama with washington, lincoln, kennedy or fdr.

[Lexicore]

G. There's no such thing as a best president. They all did horrible shit in power, and the hierarchy of the State is inherently immoral and amoral.

[LongShlongSilvr]

Wow... Someone forgot her meds today

[Celtero]

Lol, you don't like my answer but I think yours is surely the best one here.

[LongShlongSilvr]

@Celtero I'm going to agree with you because crazy people like you scare me.

[eagleriverjohn]

My top 5 in order: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, James Monroe, and JFK

[Asker]

Barack Obama?

[eagleriverjohn]

He's maybe around 15th-20th for me

[6942Dom]

Obama? You guys are fools or you don't understand history.

[Mikey_Ramone]

Obama divided the USA by racism. I never heard that there would be a lot of shooting incidents in the country since the day he took the office. With ISIS related and shit. Enough is enough of that garbage, now it's Trump cleaning his mess. Nuff said.

[Zodiac10]

Lincoln is obviously a better choice

[Just_A_Guy2018]

Is this a poll or a place for you to bash the replies people are offering?

[vishna]

Probably one of the old ones who helped build the country or steer it out of a disaster.

[Anon-ymous1]

Asking this of people who are definitely not Presidential historians and so don't really have an informed opinion...

[andreasderjuengere]

For fairness (and freedom of speech) I would have liked to see all candidates, and not a selection only.

[abc3643]

FDR
Washington
Lincoln
The others don't measure up as well.

[PrettyRegular]

Reagan. I think that Trump is doing fine and has shaken the deck a bit. If he gets a second term and gets even more done, he will be right in the top.

[insomnium95]

Washington, he was the first president and an all American revolutionary war veteran, fuck the rest. Obozo was probably the worst anti American president we ever had.

[Anonymous]

Why the hell is Obama in this list? He's the worst!

[TheHillsRAlive]

Sorry, the best one is not listed as an option
Donald J. Trump... lovingly nicknamed #45

[chc0009]

Abraham Lincoln hands down, since he freed the slaves.

[AuroraRoseat]

He only did so as a last resort against the South. It wasn't is base intention.

[Josh13]

Still did it.

[JellyDonutguy96]

Ronald Reagan

though I was born was after his Presidency,

I was born during the 1996 Presidential election in September

[Waffles731]

Washington could literally have chosen to become king and he didn't, its him

[kvn01]

Why was Obama such a good president I know he did good stuff but I don't think he was exceptional

[LongShlongSilvr]

Good stuff? Like what? Race relations?

[WeirdoWerdo]

Old George without him well good luck with getting independence as early as you got it.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business. Calvin Coolidge

[Celtero]

What was so great about obummer?

[Asker]

I do not understand what you said

[Celtero]

3 thumbs down and still no answer. Typical for women in the realm of politics.

"I like Barack Hussein Obama cuz he charismatic and a democrap!"

[Lexicore]

Woo, look at that misogyny. It ain't the 50's anymore dude

[Celtero]

@Lexicore And I still don't get an answer to my original question. Calling me a misogynist isn't gonna change my mind you know?

If one of you ladies can tell me what makes Obama good enough to appear on a list with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln then perhaps I'll end up eating my words.

The way I see Obama is he fucked up race relations by feeding the police brutality narrative, he fucked up gender relations by mistakenly saying 1/5 women get raped at college, he fucked up Libya by funding terrorists and overthrowing the dictator that brought some amount of order to the country, he took a shit on healthcare for the middle class, bombed the fuck out of the middle east with drones and won the nobel peace prize for it, had such a lax illegal immigration policy practically anybody could walk in.

So really, what makes him the best president of all time, #1 out of 45?

[Anonymous]

Can't believe people chose Obama over Lincoln or Reagan. Really? Some dumbasses on here.

[AuroraRoseat]

It is a choice and you insult? Do you realize the grave immaturity that comes across as you do?

[Opinion Owner]

Facts don't lie. Obama didn't do more than them.

[mike5150]

What significant accomplishment that obama did will be felt for the rest of us history?

[AuroraRoseat]

It is still an overwhelmingly subjectice choice. Most people werent alive for the others (which makes the poll a bit biased).

[Opinion Owner]

For the love of God don't say Obama Care.

[Opinion Owner]

It's pretty easy to make it objective. Look at what they have done.

[smahala1991]

No Kennedy? Out of these I will go FDR, Lincoln, Washington, Reagan, then Kennedy

[Nadim171]

Donald Trump, but I think Reagan and Washington
Washington actually is the one that made America

[Deukalion]

Probably the only real president was Kennedy , the others are just masons sluts , and stupid puppets.

[Midhat]

I'm not American but i think ronald Regan, that sneaky bastard did a lot

[ausmaster]

Harry Truman? That's interesting lol.

[Asker]

Best President?

[mattdzz]

Since Trump isn't up there I'll go for Teddy.

[dropkicknj13]

Andrew Jackson, but of these choices Washington

[Anonymous]

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

[bamesjond0069]

Why no Trump? Worthless poll.

[6942Dom]

They stuff Obama in there. What do you think.

[marilynmansonssextoy]

Kennedy or Obama.
xx
~ Mrs Manson

[ToffEee]

Obama was and will be the best among the others.

[LongShlongSilvr]

Obama is a tie with Carter for worst

[Sweatyotterr]

Lincoln homie got rid of slavery

[Nachowedgie]

Donald Trump obviously

[Mikey_Ramone]

Can't agree more. Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump are my two favorite Presidents.

[Asker]

@Mikey_Ramone Really? A racist, sexist, homophobic, lying man. Trump is a lousy president!

[Nachowedgie]

Explain how he's racist when he has black people, women and gay people working with him to make the country better which he's doing very successfully.

[Mikey_Ramone]

Wow gurl you watched too much fake news. Time to wake up.

[TheSimon98]

Why is John F. Kennedy not in this list?

[MarilynMansonsSlvt]

Obama
xx
~ Mrs Manson

[andreasderjuengere]

Presently, I would say Sebastián Piñera.

[BlackSunAeon8]

Obama shouldn’t even be on that list.

[GreedyGiver651]

Well he is, as he is a president

[pitzi]

DONALD J TRUMP.

[Asker]

A racist, sexist, homophobic, lying man. Trump is a lousy president!

[pitzi]

YEAH WE HEARD YOU
Jeez woman

[Mikey_Ramone]

Thank you pitzi. I am Vietnamese and I stand with the President! Donald Trump now he's winning, definitely in November's election day. We'll see about that.

[Cask23]

Donald J Trump

[Asker]

A racist, sexist, homophobic, lying man. Trump is a lousy president!

[reptocarl]

That’s just your opinion you cowardly anonymous

[Mikey_Ramone]

@reptocarl Same old answer from any Liberals. They will never learn.

[yesnomaybeone985]

Aren't they all shit.

[Dude_1820]

Clinton or Bush. Or Obummer

[outside_Toronto]

They're all the same really

[Josh13]

Not true

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 On the outside looking in, I don't see where any one of them made a change that was truly better for the citizens

[Josh13]

Lincoln abolished slavery

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 But as someone else said... that wasn't his base intention. So that doesn't make him any better than the others.

[Josh13]

JFK inspired the space race. Satellite TV, laptops, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, telemedicine, the joystick, ear thermometers, GPS, are some of the things we can thank the space race for.

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 But how did that or anything else he did truly help the people?

[Josh13]

He wanted it abolished. You can't just believe what she says. Do your own research sir. "Where slavery is, there liberty cannot be; and where liberty is, there slavery cannot be" Abraham Lincoln

[Josh13]

If he did not inspire the space race. It wouldn't have happened. Meaning the technological advances we have wouldn't have occurred.

[Josh13]

He also prevented the Cuban Missile Crisis. If he did something differently maybe our country would have been hit with missiles.

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 Again... I don't see what any of them did to help the people. Leave space out of it...
Do people have crippling debt that's only getting worse?
Are they working longer hours?
Is health of the population an issue?
Are they contributing to terrorism in some way shape or form?
Are they all controlled by banks?
Are they funding war?
None of them have stopped the drug war
Are they putting a stop to the police state
Are they supported by big corporations?

I want to believe whatever you tell me... but give me something here. I'm on the outside looking in and at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter to me. But I fail to see how any one of them made a difference to make the country a better place and make the lives of all citizens more enjoyable

[Josh13]

Once again slavery.

[Josh13]

Also our media is trash it's biased so don't watch it.

[Josh13]

We aren't controlled by banks either. We don't have a police state. Big corporations are good for business and our nation.

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 Fine... take the media out of the equation.
Can you give me something to change my opinion on that any or all have contributed to?
Clinton didn't have anything to do with slavery, so that's invalid in my opinion. How is life getting better?

[Josh13]

Like you said. You don't live here. You don't know what they really did for us. Just like I don't know what George Brown, John A. MacDonald, or Thomas D'Arcy Mcgee have done for Canada.

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 You are correct. That's why I'm asking you how they made a difference and made your life better. But at this point, you've not answered. That said, they're all the same to me and potentially anyone else that doesn't live there.

[Josh13]

I have answered your just not considering everything I've said.

[Josh13]

The amount of medical advances that have been made from the space race are tremendous. Slavery was a big deal. Your throwing that aside. The amount of people who were affected by the 13th amendment (abolishing slavery) was incredibly important.

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 You didn't address a single question I asked.
All you've said is slavery... which was indirect.

You work hard and will continue to.
Your children will have a tougher life than you do
You will continue to pay more taxes
You will work more hours every week
The health of citizens will continue to decline
Ware will not end
The police state will continue

We can talk in circles about this forever. I'm open minded to how any of those things have changed since 1945 and how they will change in the future.
Regardless of who they put in office... it won't.

[Josh13]

No matter what I say I'm sure you will stay rooted in your opinion. If you want to know then research our most influential presidents. I'm not going to sit and tell you what they have all done and all of that.

[Josh13]

The health of citizens isn't declining. Where do you get that information from? Not a good source. Once again I'll put it in all caps MEDIA IS BIASED.

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 Your lack of reasons is all I need to know. I've told you everything I've found based on my research without including the media as you requested. I want to believe they're different... but there is 0 evidence to support that

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 Well there's more cancer, heart attacks, diabetes , adhd, depression/anxiety, autism and many other health conditions now that weren't there even 30 years ago. SO, I'd say that's a decline. Chances are you know someone with at least one of those conditions. Your Grandparents didn't. The health of the US is getting worse. You can shut the media off and still validate that information.

[Josh13]

Okay bud good luck to you. Your media sources are biased. We aren't falling apart at the seams here like you america haters want. There is a lot of evidence it's called history.

[outside_Toronto]

@Josh13 I don't hate at all. I was hoping you could enlighten me. I'm sure you're a good dude, however as open as my mind is, you haven't made any valid points.
Cheers!

[Josh13]

I apologize. Your right about that. A lot of people on here are just constantly negative about my country. They keep telling me all the problems we have. Sure we have problems, but they aren't as bad as people think. Foreigners keep telling us what's wrong with us when their country has just as many issues. Not your fault. Please though don't believe some of that stuff.

[Josh13]

Our health isn't decreasing. In fact since the 1990s the amount of smokers in the US has gone down by 41%, preventable hospitalization has decreased by 35% over the past decade. While the number of deaths in the US has increased over time, (it's because of increased population) the risk of dying had decreased. This is data from the U. S. department of health and human services. From 1900-2013 life expectancy has increased from around 30 to 45. Please look at your research again. I hope you can see my country as a place that is bettering itself instead of looking at all the negative things. I'm sure your not doing that because you said it yourself your open minded.

[Iron_Man]

Ronald Reagan

[Asker]

Obama?

[Iron_Man]

No

...

[CT_CD]

Donald Trump

[Asker]

A racist, sexist, homophobic, lying man. Trump is a lousy president!