About the American Civilization......

[d_dudy]

i've seen poles taken that said historians believe lincoln to be the greatest president ever. because he kept the country together in such bad times and did some really gutsy leadership things by stretching the constitution when he arrested maruland democrats.

washington should be a great military leader.

reagen would be great for a ww3 scenario. us vs ussr

[jsw363]

Reagan was a GREAT president. I think that his decision to fire the air traffic controllers was a GOOD one. That single decision shifted the balance of power between labor and management forever. It allowed companies to fire workers, adapt to the information revolution and then hire more workers. As a result millions of jobs were eliminated, BUT also millions of jobs were created, helping thrust America into the economic expansion of the 90's.

[static]

Originally posted by jsw363
Reagan was a GREAT president. I think that his decision to fire the air traffic controllers was a GOOD one. That single decision shifted the balance of power between labor and management forever. It allowed companies to fire workers, adapt to the information revolution and then hire more workers. As a result millions of jobs were eliminated, BUT also millions of jobs were created, helping thrust America into the economic expansion of the 90's.

Reagan was a great man, but a so-so president. The nation's deficit skyrocketed under him, and his tax cut was all smoke and mirrors. However, he was good with foriegn affairs and helped bring about the end of the cold war.

Here's my top five presidents:

1. F.D.R. - Led the country out the economic ruin and of course his leadership during WW2.

2. Lincoln - Kept the country together during the civil war (much harder than it sounds).

3. Washington - His diplomacy and honesty was necessary for the U.S. when it started, especially with all politcal battles over state rights.

4. Cinton - Yeah, I know what your thinking, but when he took office our nation was in a reccession, headed for a depression. His handling of the price of oil was amazing, really. With cheaper oil our industries surged back on their feet, and his administration was key for the expansion of the internet(No, Al Gore didn't invent it. ). America had it greatest economic boom, by far, under his presidency. And you can't forget about him getting 'favors' from an intern while on the phone with senators.

5. Jefferson - Perhaps had the biggest impact on America than any other president, but most of it actually came before and during the formation of the U.S., and not while he was office.

[Felch]

I'd have to say that doubling the size of the country through the Louisiana Purchase and writing most of the DoI slightly outweigh getting a hummer from a fat chick.

[static]

Originally posted by Felch X
I'd have to say that doubling the size of the country through the Louisiana Purchase and writing most of the DoI slightly outweigh getting a hummer from a fat chick.

True , But the DofI, while a VERY important symbol of freedom, didn't shape the goverment and polictical systems of America. The constitution is what our country is based on. The Louisiana Purchase was significant for the expansion of the country, so you have a good argument there.

P.S. - Monica is not a fat chick, she's just 'Big-Boned'.

[Inverse Icarus]

ok. i know right now all you Yoorp people are goign to slam clinton for the affairs...

well think of this: did we elect him to be a good person? no. we elected him to do the best he could four the nation. and he did.

HE WAS A GREAT PRESIDENT, BUT NOT SO GREAT A MAN.

(and this should be a double blessing comming from a republican)

[Felch]

It would be silly for Europeans to trash us for the affairs of Clinton.

Didn't some French President or something go to a state funeral with his mistress?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Possibly JFK?

Ugh! What a horrible President!

Clinton in the Top 5 . Funny, since the historians, who rank the Presidents (Republicans & Democrats) put him mid-pack. Yes, Reagan would be better, but still not that good. F.D.R might be the best. He was there when the US was at the beginning of its strongest era. Maybe Eisenhower would be good as well.

[Christantine The Great]

Doubling the size of the US by buying land at rock bottom prices from a country that didn't want it anyway isn't that impressive...

[static]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Possibly JFK?

Ugh! What a horrible President!

Clinton in the Top 5 . Funny, since the historians, who rank the Presidents (Republicans & Democrats) put him mid-pack. Yes, Reagan would be better, but still not that good. F.D.R might be the best. He was there when the US was at the beginning of its strongest era. Maybe Eisenhower would be good as well.

Eisenhower , He was perhaps our dumbest president ever, he makes G.W. Bush look like Einstein.

JFK was a good president, Apollo Program was his idea and many thought he was crazy at the time. Leadership during the Cuban missile crisis, and of course, banging Marilyn Monroe (I guess I have a one track mind).

Clinton was ranked mid-pack because is was still in office, 50 years from now I think they will rank him in the top five.

[Felch]

It's funny how times change.

I'm an ancient studies major now, and one of the biggest bothers in terms of ancient historical documents is that all they do is praise the local ruler. So the first hand accounts are often things like, "The Great King Zybilogylisowagglethorp led an army of 100,000 mighty soldiers against his enemy, and, after a great slaughter, invented the Internet."

Point is, in modern times we've gone to the opposite extreme, at least according to static. Our leaders nowadays are just humdrum, run of the mill, nobodys. Although I don't consider Clinton that great it is interesting that he was considered so average.

[saracen31]

Funny that to be considered a "great" U.S. president, you had to have been in office during a war. Washington, Lincoln, Wilson, FDR - all during wars which the U.S. won.

It's not an easy choice. But I'm sure it will come down to Lincoln or Washington - you could make a case for either. Wilson did contribute quite a bit with the League of Nations, but there's no way he's the leader. FDR's biggest legacy today is that almost 40% of my paycheck is being sucked away by the government every 2 weeks.

For the great woman leader: can't really think of one, that's pretty pathetic. Eleanor Roosevelt would have to be my choice.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by saracen31
Funny that to be considered a "great" U.S. president, you had to have been in office during a war. Washington, Lincoln, Wilson, FDR - all during wars which the U.S. won

What war was Washington in office during?

[Tingkai]

RE: Hillary Clinton for woman leader of American Civ?

We should start that rumour. Can you imagine how the republicans would react. It would be like the old cartoons with the eyes bugging out and steam coming out of their ears. Civ would be front page news. Can you imagine how some people on this list would react. We'd never hear the end of it.

[Kc7mxo]

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4. Cinton - Yeah, I know what your thinking, but when he took office our nation was in a reccession, headed for a depression. His handling of the price of oil was amazing, really. With cheaper oil our industries surged back on their feet, and his administration was key for the expansion of the internet(No, Al Gore didn't invent it. ). America had it greatest economic boom, by far, under his presidency. And you can't forget about him getting 'favors' from an intern while on the phone with senators.
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Clinton as top 5 president? Thats rather a stretch don't you think.

Any economist can tell you that the president has very little effect on the economy. His handling of the oil crisis? Please.

Greatest economic boom. The economic boom was alrady gaining strength s he went in to office. He merely didn't do anything to hinder it. And the current reccession started before he left office. But it wasn't his fault either.

JFk would certainly belong higher up on the list if only for his more unifyiny abilities (thoguh he wasn't universally liked, not by a long shot). I think that in the great book of history clinton will go down next to taft, nothing special.