Which past Presidents would be better today?
Time for another political parlor game. The other day, I was asked who I would pick from past Presidents to lead the nation today. While I think they would be obvious choices, I did not pick any of the Founders or President Lincoln – no one from the pre-industrial age.
I also put my own spin on the mental exercise. If you could pick a candidate for President today from each party – but from only from the post-1900 list of past Presidents — who would those candidates be?
On the Republican side, my pick would be obvious to anyone reading my commentaries. I pick President Reagan. Some might be surprised by my pick for the Democrat candidate. I go with Bill Clinton.
Just for the record, my second choice on the GOP side would be President Eisenhower – and President Truman for the Democrats.
So, why Reagan?
Of course, I like his conservative policies. I would credit him with one of – if not THE – most successful American foreign policies — at least since Jefferson. Obviously, Reagan’s most notable achievement was an 8-year policy directed at dissembling the old Soviet Union – freeing dozens of the so-called “captive nations.” He shattered Stalin’s empire.
Reagan spoke softly but carried that big stick to which Teddy Roosevelt referred – and was not afraid to use it surgically. He ended Muammar al-Gaddafi’s support of international terrorism by bombing the presidential palace in Libya – and pushed back on Gaddafi’s claim over Mediterranean waters by shooting down Libyan fighter jets operating belligerently against American ships operating in international waters. He sent troops into Greneda to prevent a Communist takeover. He toppled the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.
On the home front, Reaganomics ended one of the worst inflationary periods in American history. Reagan was mostly successful in dealing with the major issues that plague America today. He was tough on crime. He understood the importance of border security.
He also had a healthy concern over the undermining of American federalism – specifically the usurpation of powers belonging to the states and the people by an increasing powerful regulatory government in Washington. He summed it up when he said, “Government is not part of the problem, it IS the problem.”
However, I think his greatest contribution may have been his personality and his demeanor. As the saying goes, Reagan could disagree strongly without being disagreeable. Like Lincoln, he respected his political adversaries and recognized the need for civil discourse. And like Lincoln, Reagan often devastated his adversaries with humor.
Reagan made patriotism respectable. He led the American people to the better angels of their nature. That was because Reagan never saw himself as the issue. He constantly referred to goodness of the American people. He was only there to represent that. He never took criticism personally or attacked others personally. Reagan’s warm working relationship with Democrat House Speaker Tip O’Neill was a hallmark of his personality.
Everything that Reagan was seems to be missing in Washington today. There is a reason why the American people gave Reagan one of the biggest reelection victories in American history.
Now, what about Clinton?
Looking at American Presidents over the past 100 years, I have to eliminate President Wilson and President Franklin Roosevelt for the big central government agenda as well as their white supremacist beliefs and policies. Same with President Johnson – although recognizing his late-in-life enlightened racial policies. President Carter was just too weak – and never seemed up to the task.
I am not as negative on President Obama as many of my conservative colleagues are. He was still too much of a big Washington government type. While Obamacare has become more popular, I am not sure it will serve the nation well as it goes along.
But I did not select Clinton merely on the comparison of the others. I have long believed and written that Clinton was a better President than many of my colleagues will concede.
Clinton foreign policies were the establishment of the World Trade Organization. He forced Russia to withdraw troops from Latvia and Estonia. He brokered the Oslo Accords that created peace between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization which provided limited self-rule in exchange for the PLO agreeing to Israel’s right to exist. He led the diplomatic effort that resulted in the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland. He supported the inclusion of Poland, Hungry and the Czech Republic into NATO.
On the domestic front Clinton – with the cooperation of a Republican Congress – produced a rare balanced budget at a time Congress was still living up to his budgeting responsibilities. He was tough on crime and produced a number of anti-crime bills – including an assault rifle ban. The key man in Congress for that legislation was then Senate Judiciary Chairman Joe Biden. Ironically, Biden is now trying to ignore those actions.
Clinton reformed welfare to create a work component and to reduce abuse of the welfare programs. He did not undo the Reagan economic program, but basically continued it – which meant that Clinton was conservative on fiscal restraint. Clinton even declared that “the day of big government is over.”
As far as Clinton’s serial scandals, I can only say that I am more interested in WHAT a President does than WHO he does.
Summary
If in 2024, we were looking at an election between Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, I think every American could take comfort that the nation would be in relatively good hands – one way or the other. Yes …there are differences to be considered and debated. And of course, in my imaginary contest Reagan gets my vote.
So, there ‘tis.
Nice one, +1.
Bush I, Clinton.
The more I learn, the more I respect Bush and wish I was more mature back then. Warrior that didn’t want war, my kind of economics, honest. Clothes make the man. He was an American gentleman.
Clinton, savvy, smart, and willing to steal any good plan, idea or management style. Hired well and listened. Could juggle hatchets. Plus fun!
Reagan ended our reduction of WWII debt, renewed our deficit increases and handed an economic pile of shit to Bush. Yech. Obama was a pussy who gave up in the second term. I mean it’s one thing to give an olive branch, but when they shoove it up your ass, your don’t offer another. One hit wonder.
Carter, come on, but Johnson—- a maybe given he’s allowed to remember Nam. Bush ii, meh. Ford more meh. Nixon, no. Kennedy, not enough time, but he was fun for the while .
Clinton raped women. Probably boys too
Well I do not know about boys nor convictions for rape, but I do know he appears as a frequent flyer (3 flights or more) on the Epstein Lolita Express plane that ran frequently to “Pleasure Island”. Trump was also on the plane manifest list, just in case you want to know.
That’s a long way from convincing evidence on both men who may have heard about young women, not underage sex slaves. Although multiple trips is BAD.
They are both personally slimey cads, and even though I liked Clinton’s Presidency, probably wouldn’t vote for him again unless Trumpism level duress.
During the Epstein trial the flight manifests became public domain FOIA documents. I looked them up back then.
The logs showed Clinton took at least 26 flights, not 11 as first believed, aboard financier Jeffrey Epstein’s Boeing 727 jet between 2001 and 2003, the first two years he was out of office. The former president took at least five of those flights without his Secret Service detail, FoxNews.com reported. *https://rollcall.com/2016/05/13/report-bill-clinton-flew-on-disgraced-donors-jet-26-times/*
“Decades before he became president, Trump flew four times in 1993, once in 1994 and once in 1995, in addition to a flight in 1997 that had been documented in portions of the flight log previously released,” The Miami Herald reports. “A woman named Marla, apparently Trump’s then-wife Marla Maples, is listed as joining him on the June 1994 flight, along with a Tiffany, apparently their then-infant daughter, and a nanny. Trump’s son Eric is listed as joining him on an August 1995 flight between Palm Beach and New York.”
Trump discussed his relationship with Epstein for a 2002 New York Magazine story.
“I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy,” Trump said. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.” *https://www.salon.com/2021/12/22/ghislaine-maxwell-trial-flew-on-epsteins-jets-more-often-than-previously-known_partner/*
Epstein was an enabler for the slimy desires of many.
Back then there was an article that posted the actual manifests. We cannot say for sure about sexual crimes committed on or after the flight landed in Pleasure Island but what seems clear is that the dates of these flights do not align with any election campaigns involving them. In Trump’s case it was before his marriage to Ivanka and in Clinton’s case it was the first two years after Clinton was out of the White House. I seriously doubt that the motives were pure for both men. They were probably bottom feeding. In a way I am kind of surprised that Larry would pick Clinton because of this. But I know his answer will be that he liked Clinton’s policies and how he worked with Newt. Bet on it.
I liked Bush 1 “read my lips” slogan! But Bush 1 what head of the CIA at the time and strongly suspected of being involved in the Kennedy assassination and cover up. We will never know, but that one picture of him in Dallas that day sure seems to be him. Kennedy vowed to “smash the CIA into 1000 pieces for the Bay of Pigs incident” but unfortunately the CIA smashed him first. Sad. A very good man bit the dust. I liked watching Slick Willy Clinton on Johnny Carson playing the saxophone. Its just a pity that something as harmless as a blow job could ruin his second term the way it did. And according to Monica it ruined much of her life too. The real victim was Hillary. I admire her composure during the outing of it all. One thing not mentioned is that Bill put Hillary in charge of Children’s Health initiative and she is very responsible for the CHIPS act that medically insures low income children today! I thought Bill and Hillary were a great husband wife team in his first term. My only concern was the number of mysterious suicide deaths that occurred during their tenure, i.e. Whitewater and still seems like mysterious deaths follow them today. Sad.
I watched the entire stock market collapse as the pendants and experts blamed Hillary‘s health plan that never existed. Amazing.
I think most of your conjectures are just that except the Epstein one. If it was one trip, no big deal, but multiple trips…. If he ever came back and he won’t, I honestly think his health is off, he would have to do some explaining to on that one.
Give me a break on Busch one and takeoff the tinfoil hat. I once had a real hatred for the man after Reagan, even accused him of ditching, the plane, but overtime realized he was one of the last great patriots from the greatest generation. I find it hard to believe he would tarnish that.
Have you ever heard the saying, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”? I do not hate Bush 1. I thought he was ok. Sure did light up Saddam’s ass! I will remove my tin foil hat when you remove your rose colored glasses my friend. LOL :>))
Did you ever see the picture?
Picture? Probably. I saw bobo….
Rose colored glasses? As cia head, he should’ve known dead babies in incubators was a ruse. Then again, he was never gung ho hawk or he would’ve finished the job. But the stuff you alluded to seems a bit deep. CIA, Bush, Kennedy? That’s a bit deep.
I’m more of a Nixon tapes and goofy stories, Trump crazy meeting in the oval sort of guy. Seems pretty silly once you pop the hood and look inside. Almost ridiculous how stupid they get when they go bad. Bush engineering Kennedy through CIA to protect the agency…..why would he care? He’s rich and doesn’t need it. Much less pull it off.
Bush 1 was one of the orchestrators of the failed Bay of Pigs assault on the Castro Regime. At the time, the CIA had many other plans for Castro which was why Kennedy wanted to smash them into a 1000 pieces. Bush would have felt very threatened as he was high up in the CIA that Kennedy wanted to smash.
Check out the film: It’s all a Rich Man’s Trick. Kennedy made a lot of enemies and Bush was one of them. He is the perfect person to have planned the Kennedy assassination. I doubt that we will never know the truth, but the film is interesting. See at *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oVpt_I9iQQ* Listen to Kennedy on secret societies at *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSyJaUxwP-E* He is also talking about the Military Industrial Complex. His words are still ringing true today!!!!
I’ll stick with Reagan and POTUS Trump . . . to me the others are “iffy” if not downright H o R R I B L E – Like Carter, Obama and the WORSE of them all combined, “Beijing Joe” Biden. And ALL the BAD ones were DEMOCRAT.
So did you not understand the instructions or just hate Dems so much that you refuse to select one? You should investigate Kennedy. Back then, in the 1960’s, the Dem Party was very much like the GOP party today. Kennedy created the Tax Reduction Act that I am sure you like. Working class people were very in favor of Kennedy back then and cried when he died. Trump is a bloviating narcissistic digital raping sex offending tax cheating lying election interfering scandalous racist homophobic idiot that never cared about you!!! He only cares about Trump.
I gather you have never read Franks “Ten Reasons Not to Elect Trump” manifesto!???
FRANK, PLEASE TELL JOEYP WHY NOT TRUMP!!!!
You can’t fix…..
JoeyP no test well, can not read instructions :-}
Surprised he didn’t just Trump +2
GOP: Reagan would be my choice for all that Larry said, and I liked his movies. I also liked Nancy and thought she was a class act. He also came up with the defining question that we all must ask ourselves, “Are we better off now than four years ago?” And I loved his debate style, “There you go again….!” was classic. i think Reagan also came up with something called the “misery index” which was a gauge on how well Americans were doing by the index of their misery. But most of all, he had a charisma rare in politics today, and in my view not seen since Kennedy.
Dem: Tie between Kennedy and Clinton. Kennedy inspired the nation to be the best it could be and he cared deeply for the working class American. Unfortunately we were robbed of a great president in Kennedy. I think he would have been elected for two terms. Had Kennedy not been assassinated I think we would have a much different CIA, FBI, Federal Reserve, and maybe would never have gotten so deep into Vietnam. Kennedy was not in favor of the Military Industrial Complex (MIC) that Eisenhower warned the nation about, you can still find that speech on Youtube. Kennedy believed that the MIC and CIA were behind many of the conflicts on the USA’s horizon. Kennedy and his brother Bobby were tough on crime and corruption in government. Because of Kennedy we were first to the moon, and NASA which was started by his predecessor Eisenhower in 1958 got a new mission and purpose. NASA plays a big role in the security of our country today. And because of NASA we have Tang, my favorite orange drink of my youth, and many other inventions that were commercial successes began at NASA such as WD-40 which we have all used. I also think Kennedy was quite a strategist that understood the Soviet Union. He looked more for areas of cooperation than today’s politicians that look for areas of difference. Kennedy understood the value of allies and really helped our relationships with Western Europe, especially Germany. Kennedy was in my view a fiscal conservative. A little something the GOP folks will like is that Kennedy proposed the Public Law (United States) 88–272), also known as the Tax Reduction Act, that was a tax cut act proposed by President John F. Kennedy, passed by the 88th United States Congress, and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Jackie was also a very good first lady. A real flair for decorating the White House which was horribly run down when she moved in. She recognized it was the people’s house for entertaining foreign dignitaries, and that it represented the people. She gave it a total makeover!
Dem: Clinton (Slick Willy) for all of the reasons stated by Larry and Frank.
Tom … In judging Kennedy, you have to get past the polished version due to the assassination. At the time of the assassination — and about a year before the election — Kennedy was not all that popular. His reelection was in serious doubt. He did do many good things … NASA, Cuban Missile Crisis, major tax cuts. But … against Eisenhower’s advice, he expanded the Vietnam conflict and he was a phony in terms of civil rights. He voted with the southern Democrats on civil rights bills while in Congress. When campaigning in 1960, he proposed civil rights legislation, but when elect, he had it assigned to a committee head by a staunch segregationist where it died. He did the same in 1963 — and to the same committee. He was not popular with civil rights leaders. There were three things that enabled the 1960s civil rights legislation. Kennedy’s assassination … LBJ’s sincere effort to pass it … and overwhelming support of Republicans who forced the bill out of committee and blocked the Dem filibuster. It would never have happened had Kennedy lived in the judgment of many historians. And it was Bobby who fought the Mafia. You forget that Kennedy’s 1960 election was accomplished with significant Mob support. Giancana was the contact man. The Mob thought they had a deal with Jack, and were upset when Bobby went after the Mob. Some contend that is what got Jack assassinated — the Jack Ruby involvement was strange, to say the least. Some even tie the assassination to Jack affair with Giancana’s girl friend. The collapse of the deal with Kennedy is certainly got Giancana knocked off.
Yes Larry, I sure did not say Kennedy was perfect. You are a little older than me. He was very popular with my generation. So was Bobby. What I know of Kennedy’s civil rights record seems to be he was in favor of it but a bit timid on how to acocomplish it. I seem to recall he required all of Congress, several bus loads to go down to Alabama and witness the discrimination for themselves. At that time, I seem to recall Johnson was very segregationist but mellowed only because he saw the votes it would get him in 1964. There could be quite a few motives, and some non-negative, for why one might want to pick a segregationist to head a civil rights effort such as the segregationist knows how to deal with other segregationists whereas a civil right advocate would be stonewalled by the segregationist. So I will not convict him on this. It may have been a wise choice if we knew all of the considerations that went into the decision. I think he wanted to do more for civil rights than he showed politically. Yes you are correct, it was Bobby that fought the Mafia. And you are very correct about the failed deal his father made for after Jack got int the WH. But Bobby did it as the Attorney General of the USA in which he was hand picked by Jack. Jack was quoted several times as saying how much he was appalled by his father’s lifestyle and criminal behavior and that he (Jack) never wanted to be like him. This was one of his major motivations for telling Bobby to go after the mob, i.e Mafia, La Costra Nostra and those fun loving Sicilians that he knew were very crooked. I often think going after the mob was Jack’s way of trying to scrub the image of his father off of him the same way we feel the need to purge ourselves of something wicked that we think is stuck to our being. We will never know everything about Jack and his assassination, and the fact that the records which were supposed to be made public are still being withheld is troubling to me and my generation, i.e Baby boomers. So for now, I will live the rest of my life with the polished spit shined version of JFK, and think warmly of Jack despite his affairs and running around on Jackie.
Kennedy’s mafia ties go back to Joe and Bobby may have taken some of even that tiff on. My parents were close to a nephew, legit, of one of the first ones Bobby went after. Kind of a loan shark, gambling type, so sort of needed resource (loans) and basically legal gambling today. Some funny stories there.
Horist hit the nail mostly on the head; like FDR, I think the civil rights part is a bit more nuanced but certainly he handed nam to LBJ who could of ducked until Bay of Tonkin mistake and we were in for sure. Thus, Jfk not my pick.
I think LBJ was a believer and it wasn’t about votes as he wrote the south off for votes. And then they became Republicans over time.
Fun topic Mr Horist.
Larry,
“There you go again” was Reagan’s counter to certain challengers’ turning to an issue over and over again and argue some particular point of contention. These few words said in a kind of exasperation sigh was his way to inject a little levity. Yet, in no way was this him displaying anger, condescension, or desperation. Rather, His word choice came from his method actor experience, understanding that a little levity timed right worked for him.
With a few words he could effectively push the pause button on the moment. He brought calm to a stirred atmosphere, retook control, allowed the intake of a breath for himself and others. After which, he would proceed and put right the relevant points, if not questioning minds..
Today’s political chaos internationally and domestically definitely needs leaders possessing many of Reagan’s stronger characteristics. His party affiliation being Republican, perhaps maybe he would admonish his party’s rogue and rascal representatives disavowing their refusing cross party line mediation.
However, Reagan was a man of his time. Given current day’s context requires leaders with a strong hand resolve at home and abroad. Reagan may not have the mettle, if he would run for office, succeed, and then govern convincingly.
President Bill Clinton, too, might bring more order within todays House of Representatives. Internationally, the Israel and Hamas stalemate would exist. Possibly, the US would have more influence with Clinton participating with negotiation particulars. But, probability of arriving at a peaceable longterm solution in the region appears slim to impossible. History shows context surrounding todays terrible catastrophic situation. In fact its Ancient History that envelopes Palestine, variously called the Holy Land in Jewish and Christian text. American presidents may be limited to our nation’s authority with other faction nations being discouraged from sending military aid and financial support. America, too, should consider aid to Israel and recalibrate our assistance, but not leave Israel defenseless.
Our aid is our seeing to Israel’s right in defense of its sovereignty, short of creating a bully state.
I am always amazed how more often than not Americans elect the right man for the hour. While I don’t like the hour, I think I can even make that case for Trump. I also believe that one comparing candidates, if you pick the one who’s party you would rather be at, as an barbecue type party, he’s probably your better candidate. So I can hate Trump, but realize a Hillary party would be just awful.
I think Reagan brought the country together again or at least made us feel good again. Not sure anyone else could do that. Larry is convinced me, I’m wrong, but I still think he was freaking lucky on Russia, and bringing down the wall. And that it was a dangerous ploy. But he got away with it. Cowboy!
What he did to the economy did not help. He created the debt cycle and deficit cycle that continues to this day. At best, Clinton put a dent in it, but he could’ve done much much more. Bush I took it on the chin Because of Reagan. And I was really impressed that he did. He did the right thing. We should’ve skipped the lips, and looked into the mind.
Amazingly, we are at that point again. If we do not raise taxes, we are sunk. Amazingly, we only need to raise taxes on the rich and on business. And while everyone cries that raising taxes on business will affect everyone via prices, that’s the freaking idea. We all need to pay to lower the debt. Would you rather do it via cost of goods or via straight out tax?
So, to reverse Larry, I liked Reagan, the personality, but as far as policies, I just say no.
Reagan is also the last republican I voted for his first term.
I guess the good side on the downside effect is that Reagan pissed me off so much, I voted for Clinton instead of Bush. I turned out pretty well, policy wise.
Lately, the best thing that I think has happened is that Trump is really an afterthought. If people don’t recognize soon that it’s over, they’re blind. Trumpism is still there, but at this point, Trump cannot make it. Or if he does, the America I know does not exist. We don’t elect criminals. To be president.
Another thing Reagan did, and it was the only dishonesty I saw in him was that he took the cost of housing, oil, and food out of the CPI. When he did that, the CPI swung very favorably to his Reaganomics. And yes, he did add to national debt.
As for me, I think we should have a value added tax that goes directly to paying off debt and rules for no new debt. Once our debt is payed we can begin to be the country you and I once knew and recognized just as the world recognized us.
I agree, we do not elect criminals at the POTUS level but Philadelphia and a couple other cities have elected convicted criminals. With Philly I seem to remember it was a Dem congressman who went to jail for kickbacks or something like that. He only served a year or two in a cushy jail. Also I seem to remember Ted Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident in that Chappaquiddick issue. Here is an interesting list of the criminals we either elected or were hired by those we elected. *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_federal_politicians_convicted_of_crimes*
I think you hit it pretty well Larry.
Clinton was not that bad of a President. As far as him cheating with women in the White House and all the women on the side
you really can not blame him as he is married to one of the most crookedest women in history as far as I am concerned.
Hillary is an Evil Bitch and any relief from he would have been welcome for him.
Reaganomics is probably the exact opposite of Biden omics, and we all know how Biden’s self-serving disaster is affecting the world
no to mention the destruction of this country.
Bush 1 was a good president, but he is entrenched so deep in this country’s secrets with all the knowledge kept to himself. could he really have been trusted?
Weapons of Mass Destruction, this was a play for Jr out of his fathers hand book.
This is where Liz Chaney get her portion of leverage on this country’s stage.
None the less, good choices.
Ronald Reagan