Battle of the polar opposites: FDR vs. RWR

[Deus Naturae]

I'll go with Reagan. The New Deal was a total failure at ending the Depression as it cartelized countless industries, grossly distorted agriculture, and imposed labor regulations which unemployed masses of workers. Fortunately for FDR, a panacea for the unemployment problem appeared when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, where FDR had "conveniently" stationed a huge portion of the US fleet (and fired top generals who objected). Unemployment tends to decline when you cart off masses of your citizens to fight overseas. I'd bring up Japanese internment too but Reagan's drug policies were/are just as bad.

Reagan was bad in his own right for a variety of reasons, but at least had some sensible policies. Even with regard to those he was lacking (he ended up repealing nearly half of his initial tax cuts), but he still better than FDR, the ultimate welfare-warfare President.