[InterestedInPolitics]

In my view, despite the fact I disagree with some of Reagan's views and actions, I feel that America's last great president was Ronald Reagan. I have alot of respect for this man, despite some differences that I have with some of his actions and views. Who was the last great American president for you?

[Goranhammer]

Reagan, of course. Except for Nixon and Kennedy, he's the only president in the last 50 years worth a damn.

[Nets]

I think Clinton was very good, I don't know if enough time has elapsed to call him "great" though.

I think Nixon may be the last great President as of now. Watergate sucked, but otherwise I find myself agreeing with him on every issue.

[InterestedInPolitics]

Reagan, of course. Except for Nixon and Kennedy, he's the only president in the last 50 years worth a damn

Reagan was better than Nixon or Kennedy. Nixon didn't have any principles, Kennedy was just in politics because his daddy wanted him to be, though he did save humanity from certain destruction during the Cuban Missle Crisis. Reagan had spirit, wisdom and principles, though, I wouldn't agree with all of his actions.

[Zyx]

George Washington, and he was not even that good.

[Grunch]

I think Nixon may be the last great President as of now. Watergate sucked, but otherwise I find myself agreeing with him on every issue.

Like when he ran on the platform of ending the Vietnam War and then escalated it?

[Meistro1]

The last "great" President was Carter - which isn't to say he was great at all, but he was the best the 20th century had to offer, so I have to embrace someone. Reagan was terrible, probably worse than Clinton, which is saying a lot because Clinton was pretty evil. The last great president was probably Jefferson, maybe someone like Andrew Jackson or some random 19th century President I'm not familiar with.

[Meistro1]

"Like when he ran on the platform of ending the Vietnam War and then escalated it?"

Escalated it and moved it into neighbouring countries just for kicks. Way to get out with honour you douche. Plus he (Nixon) was the one who finally pulled the plug on what remained of the gold standard.

[NoRapture]

Reagan was better than Nixon or Kennedy. Nixon didn't have any principles...

Eisenhower was a great Republican president, elected by people and not coronated by money. A genius tactician of battle and a war hero, he saw corporate fascism coming before anyone else, and coined the term, military-industrial complex.

No Republican since has been worth a shit. Reagan rates just above the Bush family as third worst president in history from my point of view. Of course todays "conservatives" think he won the cold war single-handedly, giving credit to none of the American veterans, liberal and conservative, who died in battle in Korea and Vietnam. You would think only Reagan and the rest of his non-serving neocons were the only patriots left on Earth.

[Ombrageux]

I think only FDR qualifies as a 'great' president in the 20th century.

I think LBJ, Nixon and Truman qualify as "near-great". Nixon's problem is Vietnam, I don't fault him for Watergate and detente with the USSR and going to China were great things, but there was no reason to escalate Vietnam.

Fine (but not outstanding) presidents: Eisenhower, Carter, GHW Bush, Clinton.

[Zyx]

I like Lyndon B. Johnson, honestly. He was the Master of the Senate and that is an admirable role for a President to assume.

He, Lincoln, and FDR are close to Washington.

[PBVBROOK]

Like when he ran on the platform of ending the Vietnam War and then escalated it?

Sigh. Who reads history anymore?


FDR, Reagan and Nixon in that order.

Does anyone remember that Nixon called for universal health care in his innagural address?

[keso]

Nixon called for universal health care in his inaugural address

And then ... Kaiser Permanente.

Oh, so he lied.

I'm surprised.

[Meistro1]

"Sigh. Who reads history anymore? "


Warning - wikipedia sourcing!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_promise

"In the 1968 Presidential campaign, Richard Nixon stated that "new leadership will end the war" in Vietnam. "

[The Immortal Goon]

Fucking Reagan? The man was retarded. He was actually mentally handicapped.

I mean, I love conquering third world countries in order to put in dictators; the president superseding any recognized powers and firing all the employees that would dare strike against their boss; church in state, trickle down economics; a completely pointless military build up with no way to pay for it, and believe that if doctors don't get paid more than anybody else the commies win as much as much as the next guy - but he didn't even do it well.

It's a fucking sad state of affairs that people are most happy with a retard at the helm. Luckily they crucified Jimmy Carter for having the gall to suggest that Americans should wear a sweater when it's cold as there was an oil crisis. Reagan imported limousines from California as he didn't think the ones in DC were big enough.

Reagan was possibly the worst president in the last century. He was 100% flair and no substance at all.

[Meistro1]

Truman is the only man to use nuclear weapons in war.
FDR is to blame for socialism in America, although to be fair much of the New Deal was an extension of Herbert Hoovers policies.
Reagan ran on reducing the size of government, for example by getting rid of the Department of Education (zomg!!! how will poor kids learn!?!?!?!) and he, much like Bush Sr. doubled it's size. He also invaded Grenada (wtf why pick on some weak ass country like Grenada), sold weapons to Iran, funded terrorists around the world (Saddam Hussein, Contras) and really got the war on drugs going (which has been a resounding success, obv.) He did at least control inflation to a degree, which was pretty important at the time.
Clinton bombed like 30 countries and couldn't even keep it in his pants in the oval office (have some dignity will you) - the only good thing about his administration was the deadlock going on with him and Congress. George Senior - read my lips, I'm gonna raise your taxes, abandoned any of the good parts of Reagans economic platform (voodoo economics).
Kennedy is popular because he was shot, but he like Nixon both instituted price controls (economic fascism). Kennedy is also quoted as saying "My father used to say businessmen are sons of bitches, but I never believed him until now" when the steel industry violated his "voluntary" price controls (which prompted real, involuntary price controls). Price controls are very bad for the economy - as FDR found out, to say the least!

Of them all, I'd say FDR and Wilson are the worst of the 20th century, bringing socialism and military adventurism / american exceptionalism respectively, but LBJ for his massive slaughter in Vietnam get's at least the tip of the hat.

[NoRapture]

Nixon's problem is Vietnam...detente with the USSR and going to China were great things, but there was no reason to escalate Vietnam.

Yes. Being solely responsible for the deaths of a million or so people, including another forty thousand brave Americans, was just an unfortunate political necessity. It doesn't detract from his greatness. And I understand you not faulting him for Watergate. He was only trying to prevent everyone from knowing about his double-dealing, through Kissinger, with the N. Vietnamese commies and S. Vietnamese war puppets to keep the fireworks going. And, of course, his protection and facilitation of Pol Pot in Cambodia. All that greatness and no-one even seems to know about it today. Hell, Kissinger is considered a jovial old sage and interviewed on the "news" now as if he's actually human and not the brutal, murdering, cold-blooded old fascist reptile he really is.

[Sweeps]

God, I hate Kissinger. I really resent being forced to study his stupid realpolitik works in my politics courses and respect his political opinions, as if his disingenuous tripe makes up for the fact that he's a war criminal. He's such a sanctimonious, false bastard. I wish those Paris Peace Accord laurels he's resting on would just hurry up and burst into flames. The cock.

I can't go past FDR. All the presidents since then have been outed as having pretty profound political and personal failings, though that probably has something to do with the alliance and tacit respect for personal privacy between the government and press declining since Truman's presidency. But, like, whatever. FDR had the New Deal, charisma, an awesome wife, and some hot mistresses. He was a champ.

After FDR, I'd probably go for Teddy Roosevelt. Because he actually hunted the Sasquatch. You can't get any greater than that.

[Falx]

The last "great" President was Carter

Last presidents grave that I wouldn't piss on if given the chance.

[Praetor]

Clinton was as close to great as we've seen in the past 50 years.