Most evil American political leader ever?

[Boris Godunov]

Nixon, with Wilson as the runner-up.

Reagan wasn't that evil himself, but he was just the barely-awake figurehead for a cadre of evil right-wingers who really ran the show. How history repeats itself... *sigh*

Non-presidentially, the list of evil doers is huge... DeLay, Gingrinch, Livingston, Condit, Dornan, Traficant, Toricelli, Barr, Gramm, Lott, Ashcroft...

[DinoDoc]

What did Lott do that was evil?

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
What did Lott do that was evil?

Well, first there was his calling me akin to a kleptomaniac or child molestor, and then there is that whole being part of white supremacy organizations (like the CCofC). I also noted the gracious way in which he congratulated Sen. Clinton's victory by basically hoping a bolt of lightning would strike her before she reached the Senate, which was a real classy thing to say.

Then there is his legislative record. Yup...evil.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Then there is his legislative record. Yup...evil.

That was what I was wanting you to describe the faults of, mainly because he's my senator. The other stuff is fairly well known to me.

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by MrFun
Woodrow Wilson was too much of a white supremacist for my taste, and hypocritical in his proposals for national sovereignty with the League of Nations -- sovereignty for white nations, but not for colonies of our "little brown brothers."

And of course, Joseph McCarthy was a paranoid, power hungry, hyper-patriot, maniac.

Wilson supported "seperate but equal" early in his career, the later part of the 19th century, at which time black people were being given absolutely nothing. There were no segregated school systems, rest rooms, or trolleys because black people simply weren't supposed to use those services at all. We may condemn seperate but equal now, but at its time it was a "foot in the door" for black people that was sorely needed. Wilson's views were then supported by G. W. Carver and Booker T. Washington, who arguably were then the foremost black citizens of our nation. It was not until the dawn of the 20th century that DuBois began to challenge the seperate but equal doctrine.

Wilson may have done nothing for colonial peoples at the Paris peace talks, the zenith of his influence, but you have no idea how difficult it was for him to get any concessions for a rational enduring peace. Wilson arrived at the conference heralded as a savior, but after unveiling his plan he was secerely ridiculed by the press throughout Europe. Even German and Austrian papers ridiculed his ideas for a just peace. Sigmund Freud wrote a critical analysis "proving" that Wilson was a neurotic mess. Remember also that by the close of the proceedings Wilson was a cripple, and near death. Finally, consider that no one else at the time was supporting sovreignity for non-whites. Heck, all of the other survivng victorious allies walked away from the conference with brand new colonies! If you're going to demonize Wilson for not freeing the colonial peoples of the world you must double the effort for the leaders of Britain, France, Belgium and Italy. Wilson's ideas did provide inspiration to colonial peoples around the world.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
That was what I was wanting you to describe the faults of, mainly because he's my senator. The other stuff is fairly well known to me.

Well then, more proof:

http://mongo.virtualave.net/

[David Floyd]

Out of the list, I'd say it's probably Truman, for dropping the atomic bomb on civilians.

To me, though, the worst presidents - not necessarily evil, but worst - were FDR, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, and of course Harry Truman. Most of the rest were pretty bad too, mind you.

[Chris 62]

It's missing two prize jerks, James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson.
Can't have a bad US leader party without them.

I knew Dubya would be mentioned, but only an idiot would vote for him, considering that he has yet to do a single incorrect thing as president, but all he really needs is a little "r" after his name to be decried by some people.

Hamilton is an interesting choice, why was he included?

[Duddha]

It is funny that most people posting support voting for different people than the man most are voting for Henry Kissinger. And yes, being secretary of state does count as being a political leader.

[David Floyd]

I knew Dubya would be mentioned, but only an idiot would vote for him, considering that he has yet to do a single incorrect thing as president,

I'd certainly consider jacking up the military budget to be incorrect, but in fairness to the guy, almost anyone would have done the same thing post-9/11.

[Chris 62]

Hey Floyd, what ya got against Teddy?

Guy was very cool.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Chris 62
It's missing two prize jerks, James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson.
Can't have a bad US leader party without them.

Bad and evil aren't the same. Both may have been incompetent, but evil? nah.

I knew Dubya would be mentioned, but only an idiot would vote for him, considering that he has yet to do a single incorrect thing as president, but all he really needs is a little "r" after his name to be decried by some people.

Since Clinton was on the "Most Evil Leader Ever" poll, and Bush wasn't, I'd take it your lack of complaining about that is more proof of your "centrist" beliefs?

And Dubya has done plenty wrong as President, depending on your point of view.

[David Floyd]

Hey Floyd, what ya got against Teddy?

Two major things.
First of all, large-scale government interference in the economy (trust busting and the like).
Secondly, his big stick policy and military buildups.

And third, of course, he had McKinley assassinated

[Lars-E]

Originally posted by MrFun
Woodrow Wilson was too much of a white supremacist for my taste, and hypocritical in his proposals for national sovereignty with the League of Nations -- sovereignty for white nations, but not for colonies of our "little brown brothers."

Woodrow Wilson is my favorite American president. He was an internationalist and an idealist. How many other American presidents have been that?

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Lars-E
Woodrow Wilson is my favorite American president. He was an internationalist and an idealist. How many other American presidents have been that?

Several, and they weren't ardent White Supremacists. Wilson's "Internationalism" was also more like "Extremely Overbearing International Interference." He had more overseas military expeditions than any other U.S. President to this day. Congress finally had to lay the smackdown on him to stop him from invading every country he could think of.