Worst presidents and their lessons
None of our least successful presidents displayed the self-deprecatory humor of Lincoln or the sunny dispositions that powered the Roosevelts (Theodore and Franklin) and Ronald Reagan. A visitor described the Pierce White House as a “cold and cheerless place,” noting the isolation of the invalid first lady, in deep mourning for three dead sons.
When Buchanan welcomed successor Lincoln, he plaintively declared: “My dear, sir, if you are as happy on entering the White House as I on leaving, you are a very happy man indeed.”
The result of the depressing and erratic leadership of our six most conspicuous presidential failures is that all managed to estrange a once-admiring electorate within the space of a single term. Tyler,Pierce, Andrew Johnson and Buchanan all earned rejection by their own party, failed to win their own party’s nominations, entering retirement as discredited figures. Hoover and Carter appeared on national tickets and campaigned vigorously but got wiped out in historic landslides, with each incumbent carrying a mere six states.
Blowback
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Heh.
John the Libertarian on February 11, 2013 at 10:08 PM
But half the country still gives Obama a 50% approval rating. I’m convinced I’m on the holo-deck experiencing some alternate US history. Or that book AmeriKa.
Oil Can on February 11, 2013 at 10:27 PM
So because President Dog-Eater won a second term he is considered “successful” and never mind the disaster of his domestic and foreign policies? I declare President Mutt-on a “failure” in all categories except lying and entitlement give-aways designed to buy votes.
ExpressoBold on February 12, 2013 at 7:39 AM
Even after the many monuments and statues are built in Muslim countries honoring Obama, he will still rank as the worse President the United States has ever had.
albill on February 12, 2013 at 8:07 AM
Obama is officially worse than Carter.
Take the Employment-Population ratio data from 1977 to present, use Microsoft Excel to average the monthly numbers for each Presidency, and then sort them.
For the last six Presidents, here is the ranking of average Employment-Population ratio by Presidency:
63.4% Clinton Presidency (January 1993 – December 2000)
62.7% G.W.Bush Presidency (January 2001 – December 2008)
62.2% G.H.W.Bush Presidency (January 1989 – December 1992)
59.9% Reagan Presidency (January 1981 – December 1988)
59.1% Carter Presidency (January 1977- December 1980)
58.7% Obama Presidency (January 2009 – January 2013)
Obama is officially worse than Carter.
And the January 2013 number, at 58.6, was yet another below-average month, even for Obama’s sub-par average. He hasn’t been above his average since August 2009. Obama’s best months were those he “inherited” at the start of his term.
Each and every month of the Obama Presidency has “featured” an Employment-Population ratio that was lower than it ever was under President George W. Bush.
The worst month under Bush was better than the best month under Obama.
And once again, Obama is officially worse than Carter.
ITguy on February 12, 2013 at 8:12 AM
I don’t think being re-elected removes the stench of being the worst President ever.
Obama is presiding over the destruction of our future – or he’s the most demonstrably incompetent, immature, and intellectually weak President ever. The fact that he has a sycophantic media covering up for him to help him get re-elected doesn’t change his record.
DRayRaven on February 12, 2013 at 8:59 AM