I base my opinions on how well they do re foreign policy, since that is the main strength of the office. My choices would be Kennedy and Reagan. Just two Presidents so far this century, but Obama's ineptness has such bad consequences currently and long term he surpasses George W. like George was standing still. - - - Updated - - - Nixon was one of the better Presidents overall; maybe not on domestic issues but certainly foreign policy. Blame Congress for most lousy domestic policy; the Presidents have little power in that area, though a strong Party leader can have influence with the public and thus have an indirect power.
GW wasn't president during the 20st century. - - - Updated - - - Nixon had his demons but his cold war work was amazing.
AS I have said many a time other than Watergate the left should consider him one of the greatest presidents ever. He certainly did more for progressive policies than Obama has. Little things like starting the EPA, ending the war in Nam and going to China just for starts
Depending on the criteria used to define "Worst"...I would suggest that the President who damaged the Economy the most, Killed the most Americans, started the most wars, did the most damage to the United States reputation, and most effected the rest of the world negatively should be a serious contender.
Signed OSHA into law, detente with the Soviet Union, prevented Russian intervention in the '73 war. His Secretary of State in the settlement of that war, flipped Egypt from Russia to the US and reopened the Suez Canal that had been closed since Nassar.
Nixon has a lock on this. Not only was he borderline paranoid, but he tried to get me killed. I take that personally.
He tried to get you killed? That sounds like an interesting story. Please elaborate. I like your motorcycle with the jet engines on it--road runner stuff.
My bad!. . .I just assumed you were talking about the last century! Well. . .I guess GW Bush just escaped being the worst in the 20th century. . .but unless there is a lot of change. . .he will be the worst in the 21st century!
Well "change" is what the next guy was all about! Who knows what inept misfit they'll foist on you next. GW set a precedent imho.
GW Bush was the lowest common denominator. . .not even a leader, as he was LED BY CHENEY! Anything (except maybe Trump and Carson) should be an improvement from here. . .President Obama is infinitely superior than either Bush. . .and Jeb Bush is a joke!
I think I'll cut that down to the worst presidents in my lifetime, I was born immeidately after WWII. I think of 4 and they can be arranged in which way you like, Ford, Carter, Bush II, Obama. Even Nixon was better than any of those 4. But of the 20th century I think one might have to start with Hoover. But the time period of 1900-1932 the presidency was a complete different animal. A very small government with the states holding quite a bit of power. That changed with the 17th amendment, the income tax and FDR.
President Hoover..... By and far. The Great Depression came and devastated lives of millions and he did nothing about it. President Ford takes a close 2nd. Never elected as president or vice president, pardoning President Nixon was political suicide covered in "The country needs to heal" BS. President Carter, holy cow! A great diplomat for the international community. A strong southern progressive that truly believed in volunteerism, but an awful president.
George W Bush was a president for the 21st Century, not the 20th century, although I am sure someone may have already brought this up. President George W Bush (2001-2009)
Carter. I know why you picked Reagan, but what did Bush do? Pardoning Nixon shouldn't put him on this list. If it weren't for Watergate, Nixon would probably be remembered as one of the better presidents in U.S. history. Actually, he did a lot about it. He did so much that he was accused of being a socialist.
There were a lot of presidents in the 20th century and many of them I do not have a lot of knowledge of. With that said I would say Carter or Nixon.
