Ranking of U.S. Presidents by historians

Torvald Von Mansee · 07-05-10, 06:09 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histori..._United_States

Discuss.

Betonov · 07-05-10, 07:59 AM

I'll leave the discussion to americans, but I just want to make one comment. Teddy Roosevelt #1

tater · 07-05-10, 08:54 AM

The notion that these polls are even close to unbiased is of course absurd. Academic historians share the same overwhelming one-sidedness in political affiliation that other academics have. The book "In Denial" talks at some length (with publication statistics supplied) about academia's treatment of communism, for example.

Odd to see Johnson up there in the top 20 all the time, he was awful. Ditto Wilson, arguably the more repressive president ever.

Sailor Steve · 07-05-10, 09:30 AM

I like that they show the results of all the polls taken over the years. Of course the rankings are biased. It's impossible for anyone to not have a bias, period.

I still put Washington first, because without his honest dislike of power our history could have been far different, and worse. When John Adams wanted congress to give him the title "His Excellence, The President Of The United States And Defender Of Their Freedoms", it was Washington himself who suggested "Mister President" might be more appropriate.

Jimbuna · 07-05-10, 10:06 AM

America have had some excellent Presidents but IMHO Roosevelt was the most helpful and friendly toward the UK.

TLAM Strike · 07-05-10, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

America have had some excellent Presidents but IMHO Roosevelt was the most helpful and friendly toward the UK.

Guessing you mean FDR?

FWI there were two President Roosevelts.

tater · 07-05-10, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

America have had some excellent Presidents but IMHO Roosevelt was the most helpful and friendly toward the UK.

FDR was actually kind of scary when you look at his constraints on civil liberties—not just during the war, but also on private commerce in his poor attempts to fix the Depression (experiments that were actually counter-productive).

Bubblehead1980 · 07-15-10, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betonov

I'll leave the discussion to americans, but I just want to make one comment. Teddy Roosevelt #1

TR's foreign policy was great, not so much the domestic.

Platapus · 07-15-10, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

TR's foreign policy was great, not so much the domestic.

And he did not care all that much about Native Americans also.

August · 07-15-10, 11:06 PM

All that statement proves is he was a man of his times. TR still did great things domestically. The national park system for one thing.

Torvald Von Mansee · 07-16-10, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

All that statement proves is he was a man of his times. TR still did great things domestically. The national park system for one thing.

Trust busting is another.

Platapus · 07-16-10, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

All that statement proves is he was a man of his times. TR still did great things domestically. The national park system for one thing.

TR was definitely one for the environment.

UnderseaLcpl · 07-16-10, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

All that statement proves is he was a man of his times. TR still did great things domestically. The national park system for one thing.

I have mixed feelings about that and the rest of TR's legacy. I'd call Teddy a good statesman, for the most part, but I strongly disapprove of his interventionist foreign policy and his (imo), uneccessary strengthening of government.

07-05-10, 09:30 AM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I like that they show the results of all the polls taken over the years. Of course the rankings are biased. It's impossible for anyone to not have a bias, period. I still put Washington first, because without his honest dislike of power our history could have been far different, and worse. When John Adams wanted congress to give him the title "His Excellence, The President Of The United States And Defender Of Their Freedoms", it was Washington himself who suggested "Mister President" might be more appropriate. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-05-10, 10:06 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,539 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	America have had some excellent Presidents but IMHO Roosevelt was the most helpful and friendly toward the UK. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

07-15-10, 11:06 PM	#10
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	All that statement proves is he was a man of his times. TR still did great things domestically. The national park system for one thing. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-05-10, 06:09 AM	#1
Torvald Von Mansee Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: CA4528 Posts: 1,693 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Ranking of U.S. Presidents by historians http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histori..._United_States Discuss. __________________ "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you" - Leon Trotsky

07-05-10, 07:59 AM	#2
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	I'll leave the discussion to americans, but I just want to make one comment. Teddy Roosevelt #1

07-05-10, 08:54 AM	#3
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	The notion that these polls are even close to unbiased is of course absurd. Academic historians share the same overwhelming one-sidedness in political affiliation that other academics have. The book "In Denial" talks at some length (with publication statistics supplied) about academia's treatment of communism, for example. Odd to see Johnson up there in the top 20 all the time, he was awful. Ditto Wilson, arguably the more repressive president ever.