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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 15, 2017 19:18:54 GMT
Odd question, but, I think, somewhat interesting--who are your favorite U.S. presidents from the period between 1869 and 1932? Why these years? Well, on the whole, it seems that this period has the weakest and least interesting presidents (e.g., the stretch from Hayes to McKinley, when the presidency was at its weakest point and Congress at its strongest; the only period that would compare is the Taylor-Buchanan stretch)--so who would be your picks of a bad lot? By removing the more obvious presidential heroes (Washington, Lincoln, [Franklin] Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan), I believe we could have a more dynamic conversation. With that said, we have two very well-known presidents here, Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson (which reminds me that John M. Cooper wrote an excellent dual-biography of them, The Warrior and the Priest). I'm expecting them to receive the majority of the votes, but maybe we can look at some other contenders too. OK? I'd love some interesting discussion here.  NOTE: We are only considering each president during his presidency. That is to say, (for example) Grant's generalship, Roosevelt's post-presidential activism (and candidacy), and Taft's Supreme Court service are all irrelevant. Who are your favorites for actions they did during their presidencies? NOTE (again): If you choose some rather unusual choices (e.g., Hoover, Hayes, or even Grant), I'd love to read your reasoning below. Heck, I'd love to read your reasoning even if you choose Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Calvin Coolidge! |
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Post by TheGoodMan19 on Sept 15, 2017 19:54:10 GMT
I'm from western New York. We got a lot of stuff in history class about Cleveland (Mayor of Buffalo) and McKinley (shot in Buffalo). We probably learned more about Cleveland than any US pres, other than Washington, Lincoln and FDR. It was a period of "hands off" Presidency, between Lincoln and Teddy. I'd vote for Andy Johnson over Wilson. He really was an ass.
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Post by Archelaus on Sept 15, 2017 20:25:14 GMT
Theodore Roosevelt - I loved his rigorous personality, and his progressive presidency advanced the welfare of the citizens with regulations on the food, meat, and drug industry, and enacting legislation to end monopolies. I also admire how progressive he was in natural conservation and protecting land and wildlife.
Woodrow Wilson - Not one of my favorite presidents, but he was a decent one. He continued the trust-busting policy of his predecessors culminating with the Clayton Antitrust Act. The involvement of the U.S. Army did tip the scales in favor of the Allies against the Axis powers. He supported the 19th Amendment. However, he re-segregated the federal civil service in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Army, which shows he was not racially progressive as his contemporaries. The Federal Reserve is a mixed bag; it has positives and its negatives.
Calvin Coolidge - I do admire his taxation policy. The only problem with his economic policy was that it allowed unregulated economic growth, which contributed to the Great Depression.
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Post by TutuAnimationPrincess on Sept 17, 2017 2:38:50 GMT
Everyone loves Teddy and Coolidge was what a conservative president should strive to be. I actually love presidential history, even within the parameters you set.
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Post by SciFive on Sept 17, 2017 17:45:13 GMT
Theodore Roosevelt.
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Post by President Ackbar™ on Sept 17, 2017 17:57:03 GMT
Just how old do you think I am?  |
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Post by politicidal on Sept 18, 2017 0:21:58 GMT
Theodore Roosevelt
Calvin Coolidge
James A. Garfield
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Post by permutojoe on Sept 18, 2017 1:31:14 GMT
Teddy and Coolidge look to be the best of that bunch. Someone must be having some fun in choosing Johnson and Grant. What did Garfield even do in the few months he was POTUS. I doubt very many people even know anymore save for a few historians and scholars.
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Sept 18, 2017 7:47:07 GMT
Ulysses S. Grant
Theodore Roosevelt
Herbert Hoover
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 19, 2017 1:19:51 GMT
politicidal and FridayOnElmStreetJust wondering if you'd care to elaborate on your choices, fellas: Garfield in your case, Politicidal, and Grant and Hoover in yours, Friday. I'm not criticizing, just wondering, as they're not the first presidents to come to mind!
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Post by hi224 on Sept 19, 2017 2:06:05 GMT
Hayes strikes me as a guy whose a tad underrated as well.
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Post by politicidal on Sept 19, 2017 2:21:38 GMT
politicidal and FridayOnElmStreet Just wondering if you'd care to elaborate on your choices, fellas: Garfield in your case, Politicidal, and Grant and Hoover in yours, Friday. I'm not criticizing, just wondering, as they're not the first presidents to come to mind! Hard to hate on someone who got shot 199 days into office. As it is, I chose Garfield admittedly more for his agenda than his actual performance given the tragic circumstances. Garfield seemed serious-minded on cracking down corruption and advancing civil rights for African-Americans. Even his death served a purpose (as cold as I don't mean to sound) as it accelerated the passage of civil service reform from being based on patronage or political affiliation to instead merit-insert political commentary here. I guess then everyone else realized they could suffer the same fate if they angered the wrong office-seeker. |
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kaasa
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Post by kaasa on Sept 19, 2017 12:38:40 GMT
I'm not participating in the poll, but according to the Animaniacs Calvin Coolidge did "fine", so my vote goes to him.
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 19, 2017 22:09:57 GMT
Hayes strikes me as a guy whose a tad underrated as well. A somewhat unusual choice. Care to elaborate, by any chance? |
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 19, 2017 22:10:32 GMT
Hard to hate on someone who got shot 199 days into office. As it is, I chose Garfield admittedly more for his agenda than his actual performance given the tragic circumstances. Garfield seemed serious-minded on cracking down corruption and advancing civil rights for African-Americans. Even his death served a purpose (as cold as I don't mean to sound) as it accelerated the passage of civil service reform from being based on patronage or political affiliation to instead merit-insert political commentary here. I guess then everyone else realized they could suffer the same fate if they angered the wrong office-seeker. Thanks for the explanation, Politicidal. Much appreciated. |
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Post by hi224 on Sept 20, 2017 0:19:30 GMT
Hayes strikes me as a guy whose a tad underrated as well. A somewhat unusual choice. Care to elaborate, by any chance? While he didnt make sweeping changes, he attempted to undo the spoils system put in place by Jackson and he reformed the postal service, his issue was timing honestly. |
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 20, 2017 23:11:29 GMT
An interesting dynamic here, I think. While Roosevelt's winning, as expected, I'm happy to see that Coolidge, a personal favorite of mine, is in second place. More curious, I feel, are the presidents who received no votes and the presidents who are unexpectedly receiving votes. That is to say, I would have expected Hayes to have won a vote before Hoover, or Arthur to have won a vote over Harrison. Presidents who Have Won No Votes at this point: Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, Warren G. Harding. (The middle initial curse!) Presidents who Have Won Unexpected Votes (in my opinion, of course): Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant (Grant is in 3rd place with 4 votes!), Herbert Hoover. ( politicidal already explained his reasoning for Garfield; and, while I can't agree (I don't really believe we can judge a president for what he says he'll do but only for what he actually does, which in Garfield's case is very little), I can't fault him for his choice.) Very curious, but I'm happy we have votes for these unexpected and oft-unheralded presidents. |
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Post by Nalkarj on Sept 23, 2017 15:15:40 GMT
Would anyone who voted for Grant care to make his case here? As I wrote, I'm only referring to each president's actions during his presidency, so Grant's generalship is irrelevant. I'd be very interested in hearing the case for President Grant.
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Post by Nalkarj on Oct 2, 2017 1:52:52 GMT
Well, now all of these presidents have at least one vote...
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Post by Nalkarj on Oct 5, 2017 15:20:49 GMT
I'm surprised that Wilson has so few votes. He was one of the first truly liberal presidents (as we would define that term now--believing in an active government with a strong role in health care, managing finance, etc.) and (after Roosevelt) possibly our first great internationalist.
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