[November 2010]

My list since 1900 in order — From Great to “Helped Destroy the Country.”

Coolidge
Reagan
Harding (only because of Tea Pot dome, otherwise he’d be #1)

Eisenhower
Kennedy
Theodore Roosevelt
Truman
Clinton
Bush I

Hoover
Bush II
Carter
Lyndon Johnson
Wilson
Nixon
Franklin Roosevelt
Obama

[Captain Kirk]

Doesn’t he realize that he IS the Empire?

Teapot dome was trivial (only one cabinet official was convicted abd even he beat most of the charges), certainly no worse than trading hostages for arms. Harding deserves number one. He was not only great on economics but also far superior on foreign policy, civil liberties, and civil rights. Sorry to tell you (but Stockman has detailed) but Reagan wimped out on the spending and deficit issue when he should have taken out his veto pen.

[Captain Kirk]

Harding (only because of Tea Pot dome, otherwise he’d be #1)

Oops, posted wrong thing. Let's try again. Teapot dome was trivial (only one cabinet official was convicted abd even he beat most of the charges), certainly no worse than trading hostages for arms. Harding deserves number one. He was not only great on economics but also far superior on foreign policy, civil liberties, and civil rights. Sorry to tell you (but Stockman has detailed) but Reagan wimped out on the spending and deficit issue when he should have taken out his veto pen.

[I cannot think of a name]

I agree with most of your list with the exception of a couple of GLARING hoo-hahs.

Clinton - slept while the terrorist grew and developed, made a laughing stock of the presidency with Monica, most dishonest administration in history - his place should be scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Carter and LBJ over Nixon - not hardly. Nixon made several mistakes but inherited a complete mess from LBJ - and cleaned up the bulk of it.

Kennedy ahead of Theodore Roosevelt? Maybe but just barely. Outside of launching the Moon race and getting shot, a lot of the other things Kennedy did weren't much. And his performance in the Bay of Pigs fiasco was despicable.

[Pontiac]

I agree with your ranking with the exception of Nixon. Despite his flaws I would rank him above Carter.

He was a big government Republican but at least his foreign policy was not a disaster.

[Fiji Hill]

My list since 1900 in order — From Great to “Helped Destroy the Country”

You left out Taft and McKinley. They would both belong near the top--above Teddy Roosevelt, and definitely above Kennedy--with McKinley somewhat higher.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

How can Nixon not be head and shoulders above Wilson or Jiminny Carter?

Nixon got croaked by the LSM in the days before the internet. If Nixon had the kind of fawning press that Clinton had, his face would be on Mount Rushmore today.