Who was the greatest U.S. president, and why?
93317
Ahh to have the Urban legend of Bill Clinton, how nice it must have been to live in a world of surplus money that he was supposed to have.  There has never been surplus money in this country.  The National Debt grew to over $5 trillion under his leadership.  It past a trillion dollars for the first time in our Nations History under Reagan and some almost 20 years later when Bill Clinton left office we had a debt of $5,650,000,000.00 or about double what it was when he took office.  And it will double again under Bush, and again under the next president unless we start doing something about it.  I have heard so much about all the surpluses under Clinton, but I have done my homework and there never were any.  You see the American People believe that by reducing the deficit we are reducing the debt.  The answer to that is NO! When we reduce the deficit we reduce the amount our debt grows for that year and that is all we are still spending more money than we are taking in.  John Kerry also believed that Clinton left surpluses of money in fact the amount he quoted during the 2004 campaign was the amount of actual debt that was left at the end of the Clinton administration,(Kerry quoted a $5.65 Trillion surplus at the end of the Clinton Presidency, we were in Debt that amount, maybe that is why he lost).  The only time in the history of our country that there was no National Debt was under Andrew Jackson(1833-41), the last time we had brought in more than we spent and brought it down was over 50 years ago Under President Harry S. Truman who will be my choice for the greatest American President, not only did he have that one year,(and it was the only year since Jackson was President), but he stands alone in History as having been the only man to order the use of Nuclear Weapons against another country in the time of war.  And that distinction goes for all mankind, no one else has ever ordered these weapons to be used against another and let us pray he remains the last as well.
278344
Which office?  If you mean President of the U.S., that would be Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Yeah, ya might say he was pretty successful, winning a war and all.
919709
In my opinion...and that is pretty much all these are anyways\n\nWorst President in the History of America is George W. Bush, worse than Nixon....but it is close\n\nBest President in my lifetime is Bill Clinton\n\nBest President of all time is tough i would say Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Lincoln, JFK, Jefferson, Washington, there are many more that were very good but it is hard to say who was the best all time.
569452
George Washington is by far the best President to date. He had no idea what he was getting himself into, but took the job anyway. He served the Untied States in the same way he had served the colonies during the Revolution, with complete control and undying support. When asked if he would continue into a third term, he declined. Hell, they tried to make the guy king at first.\n\nOn the complete other side of the spectrum is FDR. He became the country's first elected emperor. It is his fault that the current federal government is so huge. They have to have agencies to watch agencies now because of his liberal reforms. I admit that during the Great Depression, his reforms helped a small portion of the country, but after the War those programs should have been faded out. Instead he set the precedent for the federal government to control every aspect of our lives.
1004585
George Washington, the man was very selfless and loyal to his country.  Plus, if it weren't for him, we'd have a king for a ruler in the US, not a president.
667227
I'm still chuckling at liv2play106's answer -- brilliant!\n\nWithout overthinking this question too much, I'd invite Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill and John Lennon. \n\nJefferson was the most impressive intellectual figure of his time (though there were several others worth mentioning) and remains to this day my political idol. While hosting a White House dinner for a group of Nobel laureates, JFK famously referred to the gathering as "the most extraordinary collection of talent and human knowledge that has ever been gathered at the White House -- with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."\n\nChurchill was a brilliant, thoughtful and eloquent man whose ability to inspire and lead the people of Great Britain during the darkest hours of WWII can best be described as sublime. He also happens to be one of the greatest writers and orators, political or otherwise, this world has ever known. Like Jefferson, a towering intellect.\n\nLennon, one of the greatest musicians and songwriters of all time, would be invited to represent someone more or less contemporary and to add some much-needed levity to the occasion. Besides, if we were all very lucky, he might just favour us with a song. Nice. :)
243891
George washington.\nThere would be no America without him.
750397
Ronald Reagan\n\nhttp://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/presidents/firsts.htm
654422
BILL CLINTON!  Even though he got a BJ in the oval office, he was still MUCH smarter then Bush!  I don't know anything about Henry Kissinger, so I can't help there.
470206
1. Abraham Lincoln--kept the nation together in its most difficult time and was comitted to stopping the spread of slavery.\n\n2. George Washington--gave the country a chance to grow and set many precedents for the future of the country.\n\n3. Franklin Roosevelt--Saw the country through the Great Depression and World War II, promoted essential anti-poverty measures.\n\n4. Harry Truman--Established the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan (both would prove critical in ending the Cold War), integrated the Army and put the Civil Rights movement on the national stage.\n\n5. Thomas Jefferson--Doubled the size of the country with the Louisiana Purchase and ensured that the government stayed in the hands of the people.
1018678
Jim Carrey.\n\nI think he'd make a great president :-)
402351
jimmy carter.\nhe is well known for being the most ineffectual president in american history... and this is because he put the thoughts and concerns of common people before those of the wealthy beaurocrats in washington.  even today, he selflessly serves the community and reaches out to those in need.\n\nfurthermore, the people who say george w bush are hilarious... am i the only person who remembers him giving that speech about ten years ago saying that the quickest way to the oval office is through christianity?  it's such a front... it's sickening.
1064471
Oh my goodness yes!! FDR was the man, he's seriously one of my all-time favorite presidents...maybe my favorite. He made such significant changes when he was in office...things that are still relevant to this day. Because of him we have trust in the banks and he's the reason that the parties "switched" their priorities. FDR was definitely amazing. :)
110780
There are many that I think are worthy of admiration, but I like George Washington the best.\nHe led the country through some early tumultous times, was a man of high moral principles, and knew when to step down to let others lead.
321505
I think Franklin Delano Roosevelt, because his influence is still felt today.  Social programs, foreign policy are still around 61 years after his death.  I think Woodrow Wilson was very influential with his idea for the League of Nations.  Theodore Roosevelt for his belief in the environment and the national park system.  Eisenhower because of the interstate system.  Nixon because we learned that the President was not infallible.  James Monroe because of his writing of the US Constitution.  Thomas Jefferson because of his brilliance and his gift of books that became the Library of Congress.   That's my list.
1012174
The Greatest American Hero
426866
Washington hands down.  Without him there would be no other Americans.  He made a America what it is today with his decisions.