Emily Dobler of PolicyMic ranks five presidents that history remembers favorably, but probably better than it should. No one's perfect in the presidency, and taking a look back on these presidents' histories reveals some unsettling facts about the people who've led our country.
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5. Ronald Reagan
You might be surprised to see Ronald Reagan on this list. Ever since his presidency and his “Reagan Revolution,” Reagan has become the gold standard for conservative Republicans everywhere. Considering his infamy, it is difficult to even try to criticize his administration or policies.
And yet, he deserves to be criticized; Reagan was a human full of mistakes, not some demi-god sent from Republican heaven. Reagan is probably most known for his 1981 tax cut that slashed the marginal rate on the wealthiest Americans from 70% to 50%. However, as the economy fell into recession and the federal deficit spun out of control, Reagan actually raised taxes the following year. Ultimately, Reagan signed measures that increased federal taxes almost every year of his administration. These included a higher gasoline levy, the largest corporate tax increase in U.S. history, and a substantial increase in payroll taxes. While wealthy Americans benefitted from Reagan's tax policies, blue-collar Americans paid a higher percentage of their income in taxes when Reagan left office than when he came in.
If the gold standard of Republicanism substantially raised taxes throughout his presidency, does this mean current Republicans in the debt ceiling talks are mavericks?
4. John Adams
Elected in 1797, Adams took over the newborn country. Given this fact, it would make sense that the notions of liberty and civil rights would still be freshly ingrained in Adams’ head.
It seems, however, they were not so heavily deep-seated. Adams, within his first year as president, passed the Alien and Sedition Acts (comprised of four individual laws). The Naturalization Act increased the period of residence required before an immigrant could attain citizenship. The Alien Friends Act and the Alien Enemies Act allowed the president to deport any foreigner he thought dangerous to the country. Finally, the Sedition Act made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials with punishments of up to 5 years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. Combined, these laws essentially spit in the face of the Bill of Rights. While they were under the guise of protecting citizens from the French enemy, they were actually Adams’ way of weakening and silencing the opposing Democratic-Republican party.
Adams set the precedent for expanding executive powers during a time of war, creating the first U.S. imperial presidency, and this was all within the first 25 years of our country’s birth.
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt
The New Deal. Society Security. “Fireside chats.” The only president to be elected for four terms in office. Franklin Delano Roosevelt undoubtedly helped America through one of its toughest decades with his policies, leaving a lasting legacy that politicians have since tried to emulate.
However, there is one aspect of Roosevelt’s legacy I did not mention: Executive Order 9066, also known as Japanese internment. This part of Roosevelt’s lengthy career is not hidden by any means, but conveniently forgotten by most. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which stated, “Whereas the successful prosecution of the war requires every possible protection against espionage and against sabotage to national-defense material, national-defense premises, and national-defense utilities.” Roosevelt legalized the relocation of Japanese immigrants and Japanese-American citizens alike; he took away citizens’ civil liberties based on war hysteria and xenophobic paranoia. His policy forced innocent people from their homes and shoved them into what was essentially a giant prison. What makes this piece of history even better is the fact that the Supreme Court, supposed upholders of Constitutional rights, allowed this to happen legally.
The man who so bravely fought polio and adversity enacted some really racist policies while president.
2. Andrew Jackson
He coined the “Era of the Common Man” and was one of the first populists; how bad could he be, right? Apparently very bad. Andrew Jackson massacred a race and caused a severe economic panic that lasted well after his term ended.
Looking back on U.S. history, you will find that Jackson is not all he is cracked up to be. His blatantly racist policies towards the Native Americans during his Trail of Tears campaign resulted in nearly four thousand deaths. Even the Supreme Court considered these policies unconstitutional in the case Worcester v. Georgia, but that did not stop Jackson’s attempt to completely eliminate the Native American population. By today’s standards, Jackson’s Trail of Tears is considered genocide. However, why stop there? Jackson also waged war on the Second Bank of the United States, believing it to be corrupted and a threat to the economy. He escalated this war in 1833 and removed federal government funds on deposit with the bank and distributed them to “loyal” state banks. Ironically, these state banks liberally lent out the money to investors, which caused inflation and, eventually, the Panic of 1837.
I wonder how he actually managed to get on the $20 bill, considering he severely damaged the economy.
1. Grover Cleveland
Unless you are a keen U.S. history buff, chances are you forgot Cleveland was even president (let alone a famous politician). For those of you who do remember him, you probably know him as the only president to serve two terms inconsecutively.
Cleveland, however, managed to cover up one of the biggest political sex scandals. After some careful investigation, you will find that Cleveland raped a woman. As if this was not terrible enough, he also had their illegitimate child taken away from her and tried to lock her in an insane asylum. During his campaign for presidency, word got out of his atrocious crime; however, being adept at verbal manipulation, Cleveland managed to turn the public against his victim by lying and twisting the situation. He ran a smear campaign against her, calling her a harlot, and forever tarnished her reputation. Cleveland’s attacks were so horrific that, on her deathbed, she reportedly said, "Do not let the funeral be too public. I do not want strangers to come and gaze upon my face. Let everything be very quiet. Let me rest."
Suddenly, the Anthony Wiener and Bill Clinton scandals don’t seem so bad.