Warren Harding vs. John Kennedy

[A18]

It's the battle of the two presidents who were elected in years ending in zero, died in the third year of their presidencies, and were succeeded by vice presidents they were going to drop in the next election. Rumors and conspiracy theories surrounded the death of both presidents. Both had numerous affairs, both were beloved by the public despite numerous scandals, and both were considered youthful and charismatic.

Their vice presidents both won landslide elections within 40 years of each other (1924 and 1964), carrying all but one state outside of the south. And both declined to run for re-election.

[© tweed]

Kennedy.  I like both as people (even Kennedy), but Harding was incompetent.  Kennedy was a better president, even though the Bay of Pigs was a mess.

[MaC]

Warren Harding.  Tried to reverse Wilson's big government actions,  more libertarian than Kennedy, but Kennedy was still pretty good.  Not great, but last okay Democrat.

[skybridge]

I don't know how much of a landslide 1924 was compared to 1964. Also, some consider Harding's election the greatest landslide ever. Another dissimilarity between the two is that Harding was immensley popular while he was alive and Kennedy was moderately popular until his death. Harding's popularity disappeared once the scandals surrounding his life were exposed, while Kennedy became the icon of a generation.

Anyway, I vote Kennedy.

[A18]

Kennedy's lowest approval rating was in the 60s.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Kennedy. Not a big fan of him, but Harding was a crooked bastard.

[A18]

Kennedy. Not a big fan of him, but Harding was a crooked bastard.

And Kennedy was not?

[Max Power]

Kennedy's lowest approval rating was in the '60s.

Obviously. He was president from 1961-1963.

[A18]

Sorry, fixed it

[Wakie]

Kennedy. Not a big fan of him, but Harding was a crooked bastard.

And Kennedy was not?

Well he was a politician so naturally he was crooked.  But Harding achieved a special level of crooked.  He had the obligatory extra-marital affairs.  He kept the White House stocked with boot leg liquor during Prohibition.  There was Teapot Dome.  Thomas Miller, his head of the Office of Alien Property, was convicted of accepting bribes.  Jess Smith, personal aide to the Attorney General, destroyed papers and then committed suicide.  Charles Forbes, Director of the Veterans Bureau, skimmed profits, earned fat kickbacks, and ran alcohol and drugs.  He was convicted of fraud and bribery and drew a two-year sentence.  Charles Cramer, an aide to Charles Forbes, also committed suicide.

[MaC]

and whan Harding found out about the scandals in the White House, he fired those who were behind it.  That's responsibility, brudda. 
Harding lived in excess, yes, but that's irrelevant.