Not the Man For the Job: The Worst Ever U.S. Presidents

[Empire of Cats]

In the history of the United States, which spans some 240 years ever since our nation was founded, we have been led by forty-five different men who have assumed the office of President of the U.S.From George Washington to Donald J. Trump, the range of men has been diverse and interesting. Some of our presidents were truly great, the majority good enough to get a decent job done. But a rare few have had a truly rough time at the job. From Benjamin Harrison to Warren G. Harding (who I'm supposedly distantly related to, apparently, but that's another story) and from the Teapot Dome Scandal to the Whiskey Ring, the office of the President has not escaped the ignominy of scandal and vice.

But who was the absolute worst U.S. President? It can be anybody from Donald Trump or Obama to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. If possible, back up your opinion with some facts about why you don't like them.

Let the Presidential dissing commence!

[Luziyca]

Who do you think is the worst President?

For me, I think that Donald Trump will probably go down as the worst President in living memory, since although he did implement many of his campaign promises, at the same time, he has harmed American credibility, and will probably burn a lot of bridges before the year is out. The only silver lining is that America will no longer be trustworthy and credible, so someone else (like China or Russia) can take the spotlight.

But for the worst President ever? That is a difficult question.

[Rahul Raghuraman]

BUSH 43

[*]What did he do about 9/11? bin Laden, still alive, until Obama
[*]Policies? Great Recession - Obama fixed it
[*]Katrina? "What's Katrina? says Bush 43 - he didn't do anything

And all of those were in his Presidency (obviously!), which had 6 years of a Republican Congress so he could get away with it all

[Tyrassueb]

Andrew Jackson. Need I say more?

[Lady Scylla]

If I had to say the worst Presidents, I'd say:

Jackson
Nixon
Reagan

And if Trump's recent weeks have been any sign, I fully expect to add him to the list after his tenure.

[Lady Scylla]

BUSH 43

[*]What did he do about 9/11? bin Laden, still alive, until Obama
[*]Policies? Great Recession - Obama fixed it
[*]Katrina? "What's Katrina? says Bush 43 - he didn't do anything

And all of those were in his Presidency (obviously!), which had 6 years of a Republican Congress so he could get away with it all

I don't like Bush, but I wouldn't say he was the absolute worst. I can't blame the Great Recession on him, either. That was a snowball that had been building for almost two decades.

[Empire of Cats]

Andrew Jackson. Need I say more?

Jackson and Trump actually have a lot in common...both elected on a 'common man' platform, both deported groups of people (though Jackson was more relentless and ruthless), both advocated for a more limited government. At least Jackson actually fought for his country in a war.

I agree that Trump is one of the worst, but I think that either he or Andrew Johnson might be the worst, Johnson pardoned hundreds of Confederate leaders, stymied his own party's efforts to reconstruct the South, and was the first President to be impeached (and narrowly dodged a criminal conviction). But three weeks in, Trump is making Nixon look like a Boy Scout.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Probably Jackson or Buchanan.

[Greater Istanistan]

I'd actually say that Jackson wouldn't have been the complete worst. Even though he did shrink the government and deport people, he also oversaw a historic expansion of the franchise, defused the Nullification Crisis, founded the modern Democratic Party, and gave a name for a fantastic band. He's a hugely influential figure, so I wouldn't easily call him the "worst".

[Tytor]

For me, the worst president in U.S. history (so far, at least) has to be James Buchanan. The guy sat back and watched as the Civil War drew nearer, doing absolutely nothing to avoid it. Runners up include Andrew Jackson (Trail of Tears, anyone?), Franklin Pierce (one of the most pro-slavery presidents ever), and John Tyler (who was literally ejected from his party while in office). Martin Van Buren wasn't much good either.

I'm not, however, judging or ranking anyone more recent than Gerald R. Ford; the whole "living memory" thing makes it hard to subjectively rate anyone most people alive today may have voted for or against. This means that, for instance, Trump won't be added to my list at any point in time, unless he somehow manages to destroy the country single-handed. Every president from Carter on has their steadfast supporters and their diehard detractors, and there really doesn't tend to be anyone in between. For instance: either people love Reagan and think he was the best thing ever to happen to this country, or they hate him and wish that he'd never been born. Same with Obama, Clinton, both Bushes, and Carter. They are, quite simply, too fresh in everyone's memories.

[Neu Leonstein]

The worst people would probably have been some of those who propagated and defended slavery or the ethnic cleansing campaigns against Native Americans.

But that's not necessarily the same as being the worst (as in, unsuited) for the job as it was at the time. Jackson ended up running a working administration, even though he was dictatorial and paranoid, so I don't know how you'd rate that. Harrison got pneumonia and died, which is not necessarily a good fit for the presidency. Zachary Taylor died quickly too, and according to waitbutwhy.com didn't really have any fixed political views either... so that's a pretty poor fit for the office. Franklin Pierce just did whatever his cabinet told him. Buchanan was so divisive that the whole place came apart.

Actually, if you think about all the characteristics that made these people bad presidents: being paranoid and authoritarian, not having strongly-held political views, being wishy-washy and easily swayed by whoever spoke to him last while still managing to be divisive and unpopular with most... I reckon Trump really could be the ultimate in unsuitability.

Though I suppose so far he didn't get pneumonia, so there's that.

[Lady Scylla]

I'd actually say that Jackson wouldn't have been the complete worst. Even though he did shrink the government and deport people, he also oversaw a historic expansion of the franchise, defused the Nullification Crisis, founded the modern Democratic Party, and gave a name for a fantastic band. He's a hugely influential figure, so I wouldn't easily call him the "worst".

He also furthered isolationist policies, damaged relations with the native americans, hurt American trade to the point the public championed smuggling, and was partially responsible for the Panic of 1837.

[Greater Istanistan]

I'd actually say that Jackson wouldn't have been the complete worst. Even though he did shrink the government and deport people, he also oversaw a historic expansion of the franchise, defused the Nullification Crisis, founded the modern Democratic Party, and gave a name for a fantastic band. He's a hugely influential figure, so I wouldn't easily call him the "worst".

He also furthered isolationist policies, damaged relations with the native americans, hurt American trade to the point the public championed smuggling, and was partially responsible for the Panic of 1837.

Yeah, I'd never argue that he's the best, or even particularly good. However, he defined American democracy for decades and took a few monumental steps that would be vital in the long run.

I'm still a complete Honest Abe fanboy tho

[Sanctissima]

Probably Andrew Jackson.

All around good military leader, but a piss-poor president. Crashing the US economy by eliminating America's central bank, being adamantly opposed to paper money, the Trail of Tears and killing people on the front lawn of the White House in gun duels all come to mind as reasons why he was terrible. Basically, a complete asshole with very few redeeming qualities.

[Chestaan]

I think its safe to say it's probably not any of the more recent presidents. Having said that, and not knowing anything much about presidents pre-1900, I'm not a fan of Reagan. His rhetoric was dangerously provocative a and his economic policies kicked off an ever increasing wealth and income divide in the US.

[Outer Sparta]

Buchanan, Pierce, and Johnson are bottom three, although I wouldn't be surprised if Trump ends up there.

Currently, he's pretty much bottom tier at this moment in time, but did make do on his campaign promises. If he doesn't screw up the economy or harm American credibility, then I would say a bit higher than bottom tier, like around 35-40.

[Union of Despotistan]

All theses Andrew Jackson claims are nonsense.

He closed US Central Bank, he obliterated native revolts, he allowed more democracy by allowing more people to vote, he improved trade and reduced corruption.
He's in the top 3 of the bests president ever and removing him from the 20$ is a total and complete shame.

Warren G Harding and Richard Nixon are the worst.
Their respective corruption scandals destabilized the USA in levels that should not have been reached ever.

Special mention to Pierce and Buchanan who failed to handle the racial divide that lead to the Civil War under Lincoln.

[Ifreann]

In the history of the United States, which spans some 240 years ever since our nation was founded, we have been led by forty-five different men

44.

[Greater Istanistan]

In the history of the United States, which spans some 240 years ever since our nation was founded, we have been led by forty-five different men

44.

44 and a racist gremlin-dwarf-puppet-fiend whose strings are pulled by cosmic lizards, Bilderberg elites, and (worst of all) Steve Bannon?

[Ifreann]

44.

44 and a racist gremlin-dwarf-puppet-fiend whose strings are pulled by cosmic lizards, Bilderberg elites, and (worst of all) Steve Bannon?

No, 44 including Trump. Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President, but that doesn't make him two men.

[Deutsch Mitteleuropa]

In the history of the United States, which spans some 240 years ever since our nation was founded, we have been led by forty-five different men

44.

Oh right, Cleveland.

[Ifreann]

44.

Oh right, Cleveland.

Clearly he's the worst president, for throwing off the numbers.

[Deutsch Mitteleuropa]

Heh.
Anyways, it's either Buchanan or Johnson.

Stop hating on Loveable Psycho Jackson.

[The Liberated Territories]

Nixon!

[Washington Resistance Army]

Nixon!

Wasn't a crook, he did nothing wrong.