Ranking of U.S. Presidents by historians

Bilge_Rat · 07-05-10, 04:52 PM

I would rank Abraham Lincoln in the top 3 with Washington and FDR and would personally rank him no. 1

A great president is one who had a profound influence on the history of the USA.

In 1861, the USA was a collection of individual states heading towards anarchy. 13 states left before he even took office. The federal government was powerless. Every governor, congressman and senator had his own idea on running the war. Members of his cabinet thought him a country fool and openly plotted to replace him. His own generals were generally a bunch of incompetent drunks. Foreign governements were hoping the CSA would win, etc.,

Despite all these problems, Lincoln turned out to be a very smart politician and statesman who managed to win the war and change the country for the better, despite fighting the bloodiest war in america's history. Even his decision to rid the country of slavery was more of a smart political calculation than an ideological decision.

There were countless times during the Civil War when the Union could have fallen apart if a weaker or less able person was in command. He was the right man at the right time and he created the modern USA that we know today.

07-05-10, 04:52 PM	#11
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,856 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	I would rank Abraham Lincoln in the top 3 with Washington and FDR and would personally rank him no. 1 A great president is one who had a profound influence on the history of the USA. In 1861, the USA was a collection of individual states heading towards anarchy. 13 states left before he even took office. The federal government was powerless. Every governor, congressman and senator had his own idea on running the war. Members of his cabinet thought him a country fool and openly plotted to replace him. His own generals were generally a bunch of incompetent drunks. Foreign governements were hoping the CSA would win, etc., Despite all these problems, Lincoln turned out to be a very smart politician and statesman who managed to win the war and change the country for the better, despite fighting the bloodiest war in america's history. Even his decision to rid the country of slavery was more of a smart political calculation than an ideological decision. There were countless times during the Civil War when the Union could have fallen apart if a weaker or less able person was in command. He was the right man at the right time and he created the modern USA that we know today. __________________