[NCPAC]

It is very effective.

For the record (and to my mind), FDR was the worst President in history.

[Prodigal Son]

I agree (re FDR).

[MegaSilver]

For the record (and to my mind), FDR was the worst President in history.

I tend to agree. However, someone pointed out to me that the GDP grew at unprecedented rates during his tenure in office.

I know there's ammunition against that argument; I'm assuming it's because most of that growth went into the hands of the aristocracy. Could someone confirm/clarify this?

[unspun]

Very good letter indeed.
Worst: Buchanan? FDR? Johnson? Clinton?
Best at least since TR: probably W

[roadcat]

For the record (and to my mind), FDR was the worst President in history.

Ditto. Carter was the absolute worst. I still remember the price of bread and milk going up every week, people getting laid off, jobs lost, and he sat on his butt doing nothing (except making things worse). Then there was his fiasco sending helos into Iran to rescue our hostages, which should have never fell to the ayatollah in the first place. Reagan was a breath of fresh air once Carter got the boot.

[FrogMom]

FDR? He was bad, but I don't know.

I think Xlinton should be right up there in the running. He damaged us politically, socially, and militarily. We are still paying (with the worst payments yet to come as China's might is larger than its maturity, thanks to him) and may never recover.

[tcostell]

I think FDR may have made bigger mistakes than Carter but that was because he had the chance to make bigger mistakes. Had Carter been president in 1941 the USA would be a distant memory discussed only in Japanese and German history books (which would be read from Iceland to Africa and Siberia to New Zealand respectively.)

I think in terms of reasoning ability and lack of judgment, the worst president of the 20th century is really beyond dispute. James Earl Carter didn't do a single thing right during his presidency. He ran when he should have fought, surrendered when he should have negotiated, micro-managed when he should have been hands off, and exercised 'command and control' when he should have been 'laissez faire'.

[geopyg]

I remember my old man once said he couldn't stand FDR (and he was a WWII vet). He also said he couldn't stand the Kennedys - any of them. As a kid (publik skools) I couldn't believe it; FDR - leader of the free world through the dark days of WWII. JFK - America's Idol - slain by a madman.

Of course it took me awhile to come to realize my old man was right.