Who is Greatest Political Leader in U.S. History?

[Bush92]

James Madison. Instrumental at Constitutional Convention. Helped write Federalist Papers and get the original Constitution ratified. Wrote Bill of Rights. Fought Adam's and his overreaching "Alien and Sedition Acts." Only set back was not stopping War Hawks from pushing us into War of 1812. But otherwise, his fingerprint is so prominent in the early history of our Republic.

 

[shockedcanadian]

Lincoln, Washington and Reagan.

God Bless America!

 

[Rexx Taylor]

we need to ask that of Maxine Waters, who was a child when Lincoln was president

 

[dcbl]

George Washington was nothing short of amazing. The fact that he was a popular military hero sometimes overshadows his political accomplishments & he is being somewhat marginalized & forgotten in modern times, mostly because he owned slaves.

Thomas Jefferson probably does not get enough credit as a "political leader"; but his decision to move forward with the Louisiana Purchase did more to advance this country than just about anything else I can think of.

FDR is certainly worth mentioning for this spot. Although I believe that his policies have ultimately been bad for America, there is no denying that he was a great political leader.

And Reagan, definitely the greatest political leader in modern times. He was able to bring most of the country together at a time when we, as a nation, did not really believe in ourselves.

I don't think we'll ever see that type of unifying political leadership in this country again, at least not anytime soon. We are too divided & maybe even too gone to come back as one unified country with a commonality of purpose.

 

[The Professor]

“I Like Ike”

Eisenhower was initially considered to be an average president; however, his reputation increased over time as more information became available to historians. According to one source:

“A poll of prominent historians in 1962 placed Eisenhower 22nd among Presidents, a barely average chief executive who was as successful as Chester A. Arthur and a notch better than Andrew Johnson. Two decades later, his ranking had moved up to 11th, and by 1994, he placed 8th, the same position he held in a C-SPAN poll of presidential historians in 2009. Among Presidents who held office in the last 75 years, he ranked behind only Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower: Impact and Legacy | Miller Center

The one thing that impressed me the most about Eisenhower was his respect for the military and his fear that it would be exploited by corrupt politicians and their unscrupulous financial supporters in the defense industry.

"A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction.

“This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence—economic, political, even spiritual—is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military–industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together” (Highlights my own).

- Excerpts from Eisenhower farewell address to the Nation on Jan 17, 1961.

Looking back, Ike was right. He was right about the dangerous potential for misuse of the military and he was right that only an informed public can prevent such a disaster. Ike believed in a strong no-nonsense military and a strong unbiased press to protect it from misuse by corrupt power-hungry politicians. Given the current state of affairs, Ike must be turning over in his grave.

 

[regent]

America's best historians agree with me, it's FDR.

 

[Billo_Really]

RFK
JFK
MLK

 

[Preacher]

Huey Long
Charles Lindbergh
Patrick Buchanan
Andrew Jackson

 

[MACAULAY]

Thomas Jefferson.

Washington deserves to be called the father of the nation, but Jefferson was its soul.

Was in France when Madison sent him a draft of the proposed Constitution.

He said it must have three things added.......

1) Bill of Rights.....got that immediately, and thank the Lord for that...the Democrats (Socialists-Bolsheviks) seem to hate it. They would have lots of us Heartland boys in jail right now.

2) Term Limits on the President....Washington set a precedent by stepping down voluntarily which lasted until Roosevelt...NewYork/NewEngland Elitist abused it....then we got Term limits on the President, and thank the Lord for that too.

3) Term Limits on Congress.....never got it and it is destroying this Country. All every one of the sons-of-bitches care about is hustling up enough money to buy another term....to hell with the people's business. Its something even Republicans and Bolsheviks ought to be able to agree on....but the very bastards who love to suckle off the tit for life are the ones who have to pass it. They see the danger the Country is in, but all they think about is "kicking the can down the road" until after the next election.

Should have listened to Jefferson.

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

America's best historians agree with me, it's FDR.

Banned From the Agenda

I have nothing but contempt for the ruling class's academic histwhorians, so my rankings are probably unacceptable to anyone who believes in those narrow-minded nerdy conformists:

1. James Monroe
2. Thomas Jefferson
3. Andrew Jackson
4. James Polk
5. Theodore Roosevelt
6. George Washington
7. Abraham Lincoln
8. Franklin Roosevelt
9. Ronald Reagan
10. Dwight Eisenhower

 

[washamericom]

edith wilson.

 

[Votto]

What? No Barak Obama?