Stirling Newberry writes for
BopNews and is an advisor to the
Jim Newberry campaign. The opinions expressed here are his own.
Highlights:
Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, TR, FDR
Underrated by History
Cleveland, Truman, Clinton, Taft
Lowlights reel:
Tyler, Pierce, Buchanan, A Johnson, Coolidge, Nixon, Dubya
George Washington A-
Created role of Presidency, established financial infrastructure of country, navigated through sharp shoals of diplomacy, turned back hyper-inflation with fiscal discipline.
John Adams D
Established US Navy as an important force. Passed a series of questionable laws, failed to deal with internal economic pressures, failed to follow through on promises. Best that can be said about him is that he gave up power peacefully. Great man, not a Great President.
Thomas Jefferson A-
Healed rifts in country, stabilized Democratic norms, Louisiana Purchase.
James Madison C
Nearly lost War of 1812, able steward of institutions that he helped create.
James Monroe B
Able architect of long term policies, including the Missouri Compromise and "The Monroe Doctrine", coped with the first serious Depression since since the end of hyperinflation.
John Qunicy Adams B
Visionary in both social policy and infrastructure with a vast array of projects to improve the Republic.
Andrew Jackson B-
King Andrew gave America Democracy. He also gave it a series of indian wars and unstable economic booms from free banking. Along with Jefferson the architect of the Democratic Party, both for better and for worse. A one man revolution, with all of the good and evil that entails.
Martin van Buren C
Able administrator and wizard with finances, he ran out of tricks and lost to Harrison in the first race of the two party era.
Harrison I
Tyler F
First President to be kicked out of his own party. First President to be target of an impeachment.
Polk B
Won War with Mexico, left before this became a problem. Bush probably wishes he could get the same deal.
Taylor C
Strong Nationalist, but not in long time
Millard Fillmore D
Openly nativist and fumbling, grasping at straws without effecting policy.
Franklin Pierce D
Fumbled key compromises, allowed Kansas Nebraska act which set nation on course for Civil War.
Pierce Buchanan D
Allowed massive bank panic, destabilized currency, allowed nation to slip into war. Along with Hoover and A Johnson the executives most in over their heads.
Lincoln A
Recreated the Union, ended most slavery, established national banking system, modern military and executive authority.
Johnson F
Nearly destroyed what Lincoln had built. Object lesson in politically selected Vice Presidents.
Grant B-
Established gold standard, built infrastructure for Westward expansion. Scandal plagued administration allowed corruption to spiral out of control.
Hayes C-
Stabilized political gains of Republican Party.
Garfield I
Arthur C+
Civil Service bill, begins reduction in corruption.
Cleveland B
Expanded corporate law, stabilized currency, created first mechanisms to fight economic depressions.
Harrison C-
Wrestled with problems of corruption, depression and national expansion, without significant success.
Cleveland B
Created executive departments to deal with specific problems of industrialization, expanded civil service, established modern postal system and highway planning.
McKinley C
Expanded executive power, allowed monetary control to slip out of government hands and into the banking trusts.
TR A-
Progressive reforms, first President to take metropolitan infrastructure seriously, labor reform, and steps to nationalize economy.
Taft B
Under-rated president. Successful in dealing with Congress to push through many reforms that TR could not complete. Pragmatist and later Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Wilson B
Politically incompetent on a scale which few other great Presidents could even imagine - sweeping reforms of banking, taxation and military. Could not cope with many of the forces he unleashed, nor conclude major treaties.
Harding D
The beneficiary of much of Wilson's hard work, failed to institute reforms, allowed corruption, and failed to face the realities of industrialization.
Coolidge F+
Allowed speculative bubble to build, failed to regulate business, enforce existing laws or understand the direction of the country. Left catastrophe for his successor.
Hoover D
Well meaning, intelligent - but grossly inadequeate to his circumstances.
FDR A
The New Deal. The World War.
Truman A-
Successfully managed transition of economic and political realities, far reaching international institutions. Failed to understand the threat from Stalinism at first, and but created system of international arrangments that became "containment".
Eisenhower B
Expanded civil rights, infrastructure, high tech military.
Kennedy B+
Reformed economic and taxation system, redirected industry to consumer growth, created far reaching vision of a broader architecture for government to reduce poverty in America.
LBJ C+
Taft to Kennedy's TR - successful in dealing with Congress, over-reliant on advisors and bloody minded in foreign policy - continued dramatic reduction in poverty begun by JFK.
Nixon F
Destroyed post-war economic system, unhinged currency in the most incompetent manner imaginable, established criminality as acceptable in governance, allowed middle east to spiral out of control - setting the stage for stagflation and instability. appointed a reactionary judiciary designed to allow Republicans to take power permenantly. Resigned before being impeached. High points included the EPA and recognition of the PRC.
Ford D+
Simply incapable of understanding what needed to be done. Talked a great deal, was pressured by congress to institute reforms.
Carter C+
Excellent long term vision in budgets, military affairs and judiciary. Incapable of understanding crisis management and allowed Iran-Iraq situation to deteriorate to the point of cataclysmic economic consequences. Unable to deal with Congress.
Reagan B-
Cut capital gains tax rates, pragmatist in foreign affairs to gradually contain oil crisis. Set course for the Friedman-Mundell economy which eroded pay and opportunity for lowest third of Americans, allowed government to atrophy resulting in later scandals and economically adverse effects.
Bush D
Feckless chief executive who attempted to milk Reagan's prosperity, not realizing that Reagan had milked Carter's austerity. Allowed Iraq to become a running disaster area.
Clinton B+
The UnCarter - little long term vision or ability to create institutions, but the best crisis manager in the Executive Office since JFK. Able to temporize with a series of political and economic problems.
Dubya F
Worst job creation, any single term, since Eisenhower's second term, or perhaps Hoover. Destabilized US dollar. Destabilized middle east. Nakedly criminal acts in pursuit of marginal policies.