Who has been America's worst President?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

This is an expanded poll; George W. Bush for me.

[??????????]

Where's Lincoln or FDR?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Where's Lincoln or FDR?

The "other" option.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Pennsylvania's only President.

[dead0man]

It's much much to soon to lay the title of "worst" on anybody from about Carter on and anybody that does so you can't take very seriously.

[jokerman]

Harding, followed by Pierce and Buchanan.

[Lief 🗽]

George W. Bush.

[King of the Bench]

Buc**ntnan

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

1. Buchanan
2. Harding
3. Pierce

- I'll give GW Bush some time before crowning him.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

15th President of the United States James Buchanan. Closely followed by Warren Harding and Franklin Pierce.

[specific_name]

well what's our criteria? here's my opinions and why, if you disagree enlighten me...I love historical debate.


I don't like Lincoln because I believe he over extended federal power. It wasn't him alone, he wasn't really a Radical Republican, but still I think he's the kind of person you either love or hate. Lincoln and the Radicals forever altered the course of the country and it depends on whether or not you agree if it's the right or wrong direction.

I'm also not a fan of FDR, his success is the reason for the current political paradigm we now live under. Essentially one in which the Fed. Govt. is a caretaker or an agency of social policy. I just don't agree with that kind of federal intervention in the economy. Depression or no.

Okay, how about worst as defined by weak rather than wrong (IMO).

Under this category I would put nearly all presidents of the Guilded Age. I won't go to far into unless we get a discussion about that era, really interesting time period.

To be fair... all time worst IMO: this really hard but I'm going to say Andrew Johnson. He couldn't placate the South or the North. Essentially a miserable failure, when a decent leader was need to bring the nation together again. (regardless of how I feel about the Civil War).

[Frodo]

James Buchanan -and this forum seriously needs some historical perspective.  As bad as some think President Bush is, I don't see him precipitating a civil war that took at least 2% of the population once it was finally concluded...   

[Kaine for Senate '18]

James Buchanan -and this forum seriously needs some historical perspective.  As bad as some think President Bush is, I don't see him precipitating a civil war that took at least 2% of the population once it was finally concluded...   

That's a fair point, and I tend to waver between Buchanan and Bush, but on the day I made this poll, I thought Bush was the worst.

[SPC]

James Buchanan -and this forum seriously needs some historical perspective.  As bad as some think President Bush is, I don't see him precipitating a civil war that took at least 2% of the population once it was finally concluded...   

The civil war was started under the Lincoln administration. He could have just let the South leave in peace.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

James Buchanan -and this forum seriously needs some historical perspective.  As bad as some think President Bush is, I don't see him precipitating a civil war that took at least 2% of the population once it was finally concluded...   

The civil war was started under the Lincoln administration. He could have just let the South leave in peace.

They had no right to secede, and Lincoln had to preserve the Union.

[War on Want]

I voted Hoover on accident but really Buchanan is followed by Hoover, and then W Bush.

[Хahar 🤔]

Buchanan, then Reagan.

[Frodo]

James Buchanan -and this forum seriously needs some historical perspective.  As bad as some think President Bush is, I don't see him precipitating a civil war that took at least 2% of the population once it was finally concluded...   

The civil war was started under the Lincoln administration. He could have just let the South leave in peace.

President Buchanan actively made it happen through his subservience to the pro-slavery lobby -by the time he came to office, Lincoln had to fight to bring the Union back together. 

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Other - Woodrow Wilson.  His actions led to the death and enslavement of millions.

[exopolitician]

I picked Hoover...but I cant really say he was definately the WORST with a list like that. With scandals plaguing Nixon, Grant, and Harding and the depression with Hoover and other great failures like Buchanan its hard to decide. Curious though why is Reagan up there? He wasnt the best but I dont think he would be labeled as one of the worst either.

[specific_name]

James Buchanan -and this forum seriously needs some historical perspective.  As bad as some think President Bush is, I don't see him precipitating a civil war that took at least 2% of the population once it was finally concluded...   

The civil war was started under the Lincoln administration. He could have just let the South leave in peace.

They had no right to secede, and Lincoln had to preserve the Union.

Why did Lincoln have to preserve the Union? I here this often, it's repeated as a central tenant of American history and yet it's based on nothing substantial. The South could have left without a full scale war being fought. Why was the Union so important?

[Torie]

LBJ going away.

[dead0man]

Where is FDR?

[Verily]

Coolidge, but Buchanan, Pierce, Grant, Harding and Reagan were all also pretty terrible. I won't judge Bush, but he'd be up there.

[MasterJedi]

Buchanan